# NTSB ERA15CA226: Aerostar International S-60A, N6517X, LaGrangeville, NY, May 23, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 23, 2015, 07:30 local (11:30 UTC)
- Place: LaGrangeville, NY
- Coordinates: 41.631389, -73.760833
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6314&lon=-73.7608&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, 1 minor, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 12, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 91260
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15CA226
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91260/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91260
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA226

## Probable cause

The pilot's decision to conduct a landing to a field 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: [Aerostar International S-60A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7486060), [All aircraft, 3,098 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: [Aerostar International S-60A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md?model=7486060), [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: [Aerostar International S-60A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md?model=7486060), [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: [Aerostar International S-60A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=7486060), [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: [Aerostar International S-60A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7486060), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

Prior to a morning hot air balloon flight from a park that the pilot always launched from, the pilot observed on his way to the launch site that there was no movement in the trees or movement of flags, indicating that there was little or no wind. The winds were also reported as being variable at 3 knots at a weather reporting station near the launch site. Once at the park, the pilot also launched three pilot balloons (PIBALS) to confirm the wind. All three PIBALS indicated that safe, flyable, conditions existed. After liftoff, the pilot's GPS indicated that the wind was 2 miles per hour (mph). Approximately halfway through the flight, the surface wind picked up to 10 mph. Based on local knowledge the pilot believed that they did not have many opportunities for landing sites. The pilot therefore decided to land in a field that they were approaching. After positioning for landing in the field, he advised the passengers they would be landing, and scrubbed off some speed by allowing the basket to contact the top of a tree as they approached the field. As they cleared the tree, the pilot began to vent air from the balloons envelope. The basket then touched down "very hard," tipped over, and then dragged across the ground for 30 to 40 feet. Upon exiting the basket, one of the passengers advised that his leg was sore but he was able to walk. A few days later, the pilot received an email from the passenger's wife in which she advised the pilot that her husband had gone to see a doctor and had x-rays, and that he had a broken right tibia.

## Factual narrative

Prior to a morning hot air balloon flight from a park that the pilot always launched from, the pilot observed on his way to the launch site that there was no movement in the trees or movement of flags, indicating that there was little or no wind. The winds were also reported as being variable at 3 knots at a weather reporting station near the launch site. Once at the park, the pilot also launched three pilot balloons (PIBALS) to confirm the wind. All three PIBALS indicated that safe, flyable, conditions existed. After liftoff, the pilot's GPS indicated that the winds were at 2 miles per hour (mph). Approximately halfway through the flight, the surface winds picked up to 10 mph. Based on local knowledge the pilot believed that they did not have many opportunities for landing sites. The pilot therefore decided to land in a field that they were approaching. After positioning for landing in the field, he advised the passengers they would be landing, and scrubbed off some speed by allowing the basket to contact the top of a tree as they approached the field. As they cleared the tree, the pilot began to vent air from the balloons envelope. The basket then touched down "very hard," tipped over, and then dragged across the ground for 30 to 40 feet. Upon exiting the basket, one of the passengers advised that his leg was sore but he was able to walk. A few days later, the pilot received an email from the passenger's wife in which she advised the pilot that her husband had gone to see a doctor and had x-rays, and that he had a broken right tibia.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6517X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6517X), registered now, S/N S60A-3062, built 1987 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSTAR INTERNATIONAL S-60A
- Registry model: [Aerostar International S-60A](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-international-s-60a) (registry code 7486060) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: S60A-3062
- Year built: 1987
- Airframe hours: 488.4
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Other work use, Part 91
- Operator: Adventure With Altitude Ballooning
- Registered owner: Hamilton Richard W
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon
- Last inspection: Annual, November 6, 2014
- Departed: Pleasant Valley, NY
- Destination: LaGrangeville, NY
- Airport: None, Field
- Equipment: Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; commercial; last flight review September 27, 2013; seat: none; restraint: none; flight hours: 164 total, 160.1 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter: 30.37 inHg
- Observed at: POU, 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 20150523023109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150523023109A), May 23, 2015: Aerostar International Inc S-60A, Lagrangeville, NY, No damage. Unforecast winds at surface required an unscheduled off-site landing. Injury to passenger not observed after exiting

## Docket (8 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 3, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91260. 2.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430108&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Witness Statements and Interview Summaries (item 2, .PDF, 407 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430109&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements%20and%20Interview%20Summaries-Master.PDF
- Satellite Image of Accident Area (item 3, .PDF, 243 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430111&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Satellite%20Image%20of%20Accident%20Area-Master.PDF
- Weather Reports and Records – KPOU METARs and TAFs (item 4, .PDF, 152 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430113&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records%20%E2%80%93%20KPOU%20METARs%20and%20TAFs-Master.PDF
- Photo 1 – Touchdown – Courtesy of A. Kutter (item 5, .JPG, 32 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430117&FileExtension=.jpg&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Touchdown%20%E2%80%93%20Courtesy%20of%20A.%20Kutter-Master.jpg
- Photo 2 – Initial Image of Balloon after Landing – Courtesy of A. Kutter (item 6, .JPG, 141 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430119&FileExtension=.jpg&FileName=Photo%202%20%E2%80%93%20Initial%20Image%20of%20Balloon%20after%20Landing%20%E2%80%93%20Courtesy%20of%20A.%20Kutter-Master.jpg
- Photo 3 – Second Image of Balloon after Landing – Courtesy of A. Kutter (item 7, .JPG, 115 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430122&FileExtension=.jpg&FileName=Photo%203%20%E2%80%93%20Second%20Image%20of%20Balloon%20after%20Landing%20%E2%80%93%20Courtesy%20of%20A.%20Kutter-Master.jpg
- Photo 4 – Third Image of Balloon after Landing – Courtesy of A. Kutter (item 8, .JPG, 196 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430123&FileExtension=.jpg&FileName=Photo%204%20%E2%80%93%20Third%20Image%20of%20Balloon%20after%20Landing%20%E2%80%93%20Courtesy%20of%20A.%20Kutter-Master.jpg

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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