# NTSB ERA15CA035: Head AX8 88B, N20671, Montevallo, AL, October 25, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 25, 2014, 08:15 local (13:15 UTC) - Place: Montevallo, AL - Coordinates: 33.084999, -86.839164 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0850&lon=-86.8392&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 12, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 90332 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15CA035 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90332/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90332 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA035 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to conduct a landing to a confined area in high wind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent injury to a passenger. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Head Balloons AX8-88, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=4280200), [All aircraft, 3,101 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Head Balloons AX8-88, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md?model=4280200), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md) - [Wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Head Balloons AX8-88, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md?model=4280200), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Head Balloons AX8-88, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=4280200), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Head Balloons AX8-88, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=4280200), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis At the conclusion of a sightseeing flight, the pilot was descending the balloon for landing in a field he had partially observed through trees. He reported that the wind speed was between 10-15 knots. As he vented the envelope and the field came into full view, he noted that there was "not much room to land;" estimating the field to be about 60-70 yards in length. The basket touched down hard and was dragged along the ground before coming to rest. The pilot and one passenger were not injured; the second passenger fell during the landing and sustained fractures to both arms. The balloon was not damaged. The pilot stated that the preflight passenger briefing included the proper brace position for landing. The pilot also reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies of the balloon that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative At the conclusion of a sightseeing flight, the pilot was descending the balloon for landing in a field he had partially observed through trees. He reported that the wind speed was between 10-15 knots. As he vented the envelope and the field came into full view, he noted that there was "not much room to land;" estimating the field to be about 60-70 yards in length. The basket touched down hard and was dragged along the ground before coming to rest. The pilot and one passenger were not injured; the second passenger fell during the landing and sustained fractures to both arms. The balloon was not damaged. The pilot stated that the preflight passenger briefing included the proper brace position for landing. The pilot also reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies of the balloon that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N20671](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N20671), registered now, S/N 386, built 2009 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HEAD AX8 88B - Registry model: [Head Balloons AX8-88](https://openairdocs.org/model/head-balloons-ax8-88) (registry code 4280200) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 386 - Year built: 2009 - Airframe hours: 129.1 - Damage: No damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Davis William A Jr - Registered owner: Davis William A Jr - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon - Last inspection: Annual, March 9, 2014 - Departed: N/A, Alabaster, AL - Destination: N/A, Montevallo, AL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; last flight review September 14, 2014; seat: none; restraint: none; flight hours: 152 total, 112 in this make and model, 152 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.50 inHg - Observed at: KEET, 6 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20141025021799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20141025021799A), Oct 25, 2014: Head Balloons Inc AX8-88, Montevallo, AL, No damage. Flight departed alabaster, Alabama around 7:00AM from a field. Flight continued due south on a heading of 180. Balloon crossed over county road 25 near… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 29, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90332. 2.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420392&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum for Record – Pilot statement (item 2, .PDF, 87 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420393&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20%E2%80%93%20Pilot%20statement%20-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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.