# NTSB ERA22LA129: Lindstrand Balloons 60X, N377LX, Louisville, KY, January 11, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 11, 2022, 15:46 local (20:46 UTC) - Place: Louisville, KY · Papa John's HQ parking lot - Coordinates: 38.212506, -85.529867 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2125&lon=-85.5299&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 104657 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA129 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104657/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104657 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA129 ## Probable cause The pilot applicant’s delayed reaction to the balloon's increased rate of descent, which resulted in impact with a light pole. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Lindstrand Balloons 60X, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=5180017), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Lindstrand Balloons 60X, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=5180017), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Lindstrand Balloons 60X, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=5180017), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Lindstrand Balloons 60X, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=5180017), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Lindstrand Balloons 60X, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=5180017), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220); cases with it: [Lindstrand Balloons 60X, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=5180017), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Lindstrand Balloons 60X, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=5180017), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis During a descent to perform contour flying for a practical test, the pilot applicant vented the balloon. When it began to level off too high, he vented it again and the balloon began a descent he described as “faster than (he) expected.” The designated pilot examiner (DPE) called for a burn and the pilot applicant “gave a short burn” with one burner. The DPE, recognizing that the burn was insufficient to arrest the balloon’s descent, called for another burn while simultaneously grabbing the other burner. The balloon started to ascend and when the DPE realized that the basket was going to strike a light pole, he removed his hand from the burner and called for the pilot applicant to do the same; however, the pilot applicant did not remove his hand from the burner. When the basket impacted the pole, the load tapes sustained burn and heat damage. The DPE assumed control and flew them to an uneventful landing. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N377LX](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N377LX), registered now, S/N 5357, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: LINDSTRAND BALLOONS 60X - Registry model: [Lindstrand Balloons 60X](https://openairdocs.org/model/lindstrand-balloons-60x) (registry code 5180017) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 5357 - Year built: 2007 - Airframe hours: 238.2 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Prestigious Promotions LLC - Registered owner: Prestigious Promotions LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2021 - Departed: Louisville, KY - Destination: Louisville, KY - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Check pilot; age 44; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 15, 2021; seat: none; flight hours: 14,480 total, 220 in this make and model, 10,290 as pilot in command, 146 in the last 90 days, 53 in the last 30 days, 6.4 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 24; injuries: none; student; seat: none; restraint: none; flight hours: 28.9 total, 0 in this make and model, 8.7 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 10 °F - Altimeter: 30.46 inHg - Observed at: SDF, 10 nm away - METAR: METAR KSDF 112056Z 21006KT 10SM CLR 03/M12 A3046 RMK AO2 SLP318 T00331117 56029= ## 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 20220111002779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220111002779A), Jan 11, 2022: Lindstrand Balloons 60X, Louisville, KY, Substantial damage. A student pilot-balloon was taking a private pilot-balloon check ride with a balloon DPE. The student pilot initiated a descent. The balloon apparently… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 26, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104657. 20.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 16.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13613951&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20with%20instruction%20pages_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Student pilot and DPE statements (item 2, PDF, 6 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13663098&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20and%20DPE%20Statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 576 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13624933&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20ASI%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 4, PDF, 5 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13613961&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA22LA129%20Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Camera footage of utility pole strike (item 5, MOV, 750 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13613475&FileExtension=mov&FileName=Video%20of%20Lamp%20Pole%20Strike-Rel.mov 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.