# NTSB ERA20CA138: Lindstrand 180A, N3013T, Davenport, FL, December 16, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 16, 2019, 08:15 local (13:15 UTC) - Place: Davenport, FL - Coordinates: 28.254999, -81.791946 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.2550&lon=-81.7919&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, 5 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 25, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA / FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101121 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20CA138 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101121/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101121 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA138 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain the proper descent rate during the approach to landing, which resulted in a hard landing and serious injury to a passenger. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 180A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=5190010), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 180A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=5190010), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: [Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 180A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=5190010), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while flying the balloon level and preparing for landing, he brushed the basket on a treetop to slow the balloon's forward speed. After slowing, he conducted a standup landing with no basket tip-over. After securing the balloon, one of the passengers reported that her foot was injured. The injured passenger reported that, before landing, the pilot announced that they were coming in too fast for landing and that he was going to hit the treetops to slow the balloon down. He instructed the passengers to assume the landing position. She then felt a "hard whiplash-like impact" and heard tree branches snapping. Upon landing, she experienced pain in both ankles and was unable to immediately egress the basket. She later egressed with assistance. She declined immediate medical attention. She sought medical attention later that day and was initially diagnosed with a "bad sprain" of her left ankle. However, during a follow-up visit, a doctor found fractures in both of her ankles. Another passenger reported that, while not familiar with balloon landings, the landing "seemed hard and was a shock." He further stated that they had not been previously briefed that such a shock may occur during landing. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the balloon reported that, while flying level, in preparation for landing, he brushed the basket in the top of a tree to slow the forward speed. After slowing, he conducted a standup landing with no basket tip over. After securing the balloon, one of the passengers reported that her foot was injured. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation. The injured passenger reported that, prior to landing, the pilot announced they were coming in too fast for landing, and he was going to hit the treetops too slow them down. He instructed the passengers to assume the landing position. She then felt a "hard whiplash-like impact" and heard the snapping of tree branches. Upon landing, she experienced pain in both ankles and was unable to immediately egress from the basket. She later egressed with assistance. She declined immediate medical attention offered by the pilot at the scene, and again during the drive back to the operator's base. She elected to seek medical attention later that day and was initially diagnosed with a "bad sprain", of her left ankle. However, a follow up visit with a doctor later identified fractures in both of her ankles. Another passenger reported that, while not familiar with balloon landings, the landing "seemed hard and was a shock". He further stated that, they had not been previously briefed that such a shock may occur during landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3013T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3013T), registered now, S/N 5453 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Lindstrand 180A (No Series) - Registry model: [Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 180A](https://openairdocs.org/model/arbc-inc-dba-lindstrand-180a) (registry code 5190010) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 5453 - Year built: 2011 - Airframe hours: 339 - Damage: No damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Orlando Balloon Rides - Registered owner: Balloons Over The Rainbow Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon - Last inspection: Annual, September 16, 2019 - Departed: Davenport, FL - Destination: Davenport, FL - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; commercial; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 3, 2019; flight hours: 20,637 total, 20 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: GIF, 12 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). - [Incident 20191216021649I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191216021649I), Dec 16, 2019: Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 180A, Davenport, FL, No damage. Pilot stated normal sight seeing flight, brushed top of pine trees during approach to the planned landing field. Accomplished stand up landing in the field.… ## Other investigations on N3013T (1) 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. - [NTSB CEN12LA591](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA591), Aug 4, 2012: Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 180A (N3013T), Prairie du Sac, WI, minor damage. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of control of the balloon during a landing in higher-than-expected wind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 10, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101121. 10.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 10.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483511&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Tracey Paoletta (passenger) Statement (item 2, .PDF, 148 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483512&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Tracey%20Paoletta%20(passenger)%20Statement-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation with passenger Tracey Paoletta (item 3, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483513&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20passenger%20Tracey%20Paoletta-Master.PDF - Record of e-mail correspondence (operator) (item 4, .PDF, 104 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483514&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20e-mail%20correspondence%20(operator)-Master.PDF - Record of phone conversation (passenger Yang He) (item 5, .PDF, 94 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483515&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20phone%20conversation%20(passenger%20Yang%20He)%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.