# NTSB ERA23LA377: Avian Balloon Skyhawk, N2067Q, Bucyrus, OH, September 21, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 21, 2023, 18:50 local (22:50 UTC)
- Place: Bucyrus, OH
- Coordinates: 40.870927, -82.902091 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8709&lon=-82.9021&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 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/ FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 193120
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA377
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193120/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA377

## Probable cause

The balloon pilot’s bounced landing, which resulted in the basket tipping over and a serious injury to a passenger.

## Findings

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

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Avian Balloon SKYHAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0900104), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Avian Balloon SKYHAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=0900104), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Avian Balloon SKYHAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=0900104), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The balloon pilot reported that after a local sightseeing flight, she maneuvered and descended toward the landing zone that was an open field that had power lines nearby. After clearing the power lines, the pilot further descended and just prior to impact she “added a small amount of heat,” however, the basket bounced twice and tipped over onto its side. The pilot then completely deflated the balloon to prevent the basket from getting dragged on the ground. During the bounced landing and basket tip over, one of the passengers fell to the bottom of the basket, which resulted in a serious injury to her right leg. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2067Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2067Q), registered now, S/N 207, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AVIAN BALLOON SKYHAWK (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Avian Balloon SKYHAWK](https://openairdocs.org/model/avian-balloon-skyhawk) (registry code 0900104) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: 207
- Year built: 1999
- Airframe hours: 350
- Engines: AVIAN TURBO 8 unknown
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon
- Last inspection: Annual, May 5, 2023
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: None
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; private; last flight review June 24, 2022; seat: none; restraint: none; flight hours: 375 total, 375 in this make and model, 360 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observed at: MFD, 18 nm away
- METAR: METAR KMFD 212252Z 09003KT 10SM SCT055 23/13 A3025 RMK AO2 SLP239 T02280133=

## 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 20230921014749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230921014749A), Sep 21, 2023: Avian Balloon SKYHAWK, Bucyrus, OH, No damage. The flight launched from a field near the residence of the pilot, at around 1800 hours with two passengers on board. The distance of the flight was…

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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