# NTSB ERA12CA328: Ultramagic N425, N990BR, Clermont, FL, April 16, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 16, 2012, 08:15 local (12:15 UTC)
- Place: Clermont, FL
- Coordinates: 28.550556, -81.769165 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.5506&lon=-81.7692&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Cabin safety event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 13, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 83601
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA328
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83601/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83601
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA328

## Probable cause

The balloon passenger's failure to maintain her grip during landing, which resulted in a fall and injury to another passenger.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Balloon/dirigible structures](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035102): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Ultramagic N-425, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035102/cases.md?model=9130017), [All aircraft, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035102/cases.md)
- [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Passenger (probable cause); cases with it: [Ultramagic N-425, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=9130017), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Cabin safety event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110) (defining event); cases with it: [Ultramagic N-425, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110/sequence.md?model=9130017), [All aircraft, 151 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110/sequence.md)

## Analysis

At the completion of a balloon flight, the balloon touched down while moving at 4 mph and bounced. An adult passenger did not maintain her grip on the hand-holds and fell into another passenger, breaking that passenger’s wrist. According to the operator, the multi-passenger, partition-basket balloon was used for sightseeing flights. The passengers were given a briefing card and briefed at the operator's facility before being bused to the launch site, where a more detailed briefing was provided by the balloon’s pilot. The items briefed included the location of hand-holds and the proper stance at touchdown.

## Factual narrative

According to the operator, the multi-passenger, partition-basket balloon was used for sightseeing flights in central Florida. The passengers were given a briefing card and briefed at the operator's facility, prior to being bused out to the launch site where a more detailed briefing was provided by the pilot of each balloon. The items briefed included the location of hand-holds and proper stance at touchdown. At the completion of its flight, the accident balloon touched down at 4 miles per hour. An adult passenger then fell into her child, breaking the child's wrist.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N990BR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N990BR), registered now, S/N 425/52, built 2011 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ULTRAMAGIC N425 (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Ultramagic N-425](https://openairdocs.org/model/ultramagic-n-425) (registry code 9130017) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: N425-52
- Airframe hours: 50
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Other work use, Part 91
- Operator: Damien Mahony
- Registered owner: Ian R. Swift
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 29, 2011
- Departed: Orlando, FL
- Destination: Clermont, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; injuries: none; commercial; flight hours: 1,600 total, 50 in this make and model, 1,550 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 20120416007469I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120416007469I), Apr 16, 2012: Ultramagic Sa N-425, Clermont, FL, No damage. Balloon land at arnold's tree ranch, in Clermont, in a dead tree field at aprox. 4 mph. On second bounce, a small girl cried out as her mother fell on her. The…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 10, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83601. 2.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40369822&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Pilot Interview Summary (item 2, .PDF, 86 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40370639&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Interview%20Summary-Master.PDF
- Correspondence with Operator (Pre Flight Briefings) (item 3, .PDF, 19 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40369848&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%20with%20Operator%20(Pre%20Flight%20Briefings)-Redacted.PDF
- Briefing Card (Former) (item 4, .PDF, 272 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40369849&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Briefing%20Card%20(Former)-Master.PDF
- Briefing Card (Revised) (item 5, .PDF, 132 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40369850&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Briefing%20Card%20(Revised)-Master.PDF

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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