# NTSB FTW88LA167: Adams A-60, N9811N, Austin, TX, January 18, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 18, 1988, 08:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place: Austin, TX
- Coordinates: 30.260482, -97.959114 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2605&lon=-97.9591&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 3 serious, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 11, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22685
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW88LA167
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22685/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW88LA167

## Probable cause

THE BALLOON WAS DEFLATED BY THE PASSENGER WHEN HE PULLED THE CROWN LINE. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS WAS THE PILOT'S POOR JUDGEMENT IN RELINQUISHING THE LINE TO THE PASSENGER.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing
  - balloon equipment,envelope - collapsed (cause)
  - equipment,other - inadvertent activation, passenger (cause)
  - relinquishing of control - performed, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE COMMERCIAL BALLOON PILOT RELINQUISHED CONTROL OF THE CROWN LINE TO ONE OF THE FOUR PASSENGERS DURING A HIGH WIND LANDING TO A PASTURE. THE PILOT ACTIVATED THE BURNER JUST PRIOR TO LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN THE BALLOON CLIMBING TO APPROXIMATELY 60 FEET. THE PASSENGER INADVERTENTLY PULLED THE LINE WHICH RELEASED THE AIR FROM THE ENVELOPE, RESULTING IN A RAPID DESCENT TO A HARD LANDING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9811N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9811N), registered now, S/N 190 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Adams A-60
- Registry model: [Elizabeth Adams Walz A60S](https://openairdocs.org/model/elizabeth-adams-walz-a60s) (registry code 0050460) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: 190
- Airframe hours: 27
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Terrell W. Hendrix
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 22, 1987, 27 hours before
- Departed: NONE, AUSTIN, TX
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; commercial; flight hours: 477 total, 447 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## Other investigations on N9811N (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 FTW90LA110](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW90LA110), May 27, 1990: Adams A60S (N9811N), Austin, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT. THE UNFAVORABLE WIND AND OBSTACLES WERE RELATED FACTORS.

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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