# NTSB FTW94LA172: Cameron V-77, N1992B, Durango, CO, May 21, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 21, 1994, 08:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place: Durango, CO
- Coordinates: 37.270046, -107.880577 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2700&lon=-107.8806&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 7, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19065
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94LA172
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19065/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94LA172

## Probable cause

THE PILOT DID NOT ATTAIN A PROPER LEVEL OFF DURING LANDING. A DOWNDRAFT WHICH WAS ENCOUNTERED WAS A FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing
  - weather condition - downdraft (cause)
  - level off - not attained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

DURING THE LANDING SEQUENCE FOLLOWING A COMMERCIAL AIR TOUR FLIGHT, A DOWNDRAFT WAS ENCOUNTERED AND THE BALLOON LANDED HARD.  THIS LANDING CAUSED THE COMMERCIAL PILOT TO BREAK HER ANKLE AND ONE PASSENGER WAS EJECTED.  THE BALLOON BECAME AIRBORNE FOLLOWING THIS LANDING AND ASCENDED TO APPROXIMATELY 800 FEET. A SECOND LANDING WAS MADE, WHICH ACCORDING TO THE PILOT AGGRAVATED HER PREVIOUS ANKLE INJURY. THE BALLOON CHASE CREW PICKED UP THE EJECTED PASSENGER AND CALLED EMERGENCY SERVICES TO ASSIST THE PILOT. THE EJECTED PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES DURING THE EJECTION.

## Factual narrative

On May 21, 1994, at 0800 mountain daylight time, a Cameron U. S. V-77 hot air balloon, N1992B, sustained no damage in a hard landing.  The pilot suffered serious injuries, one passenger minor injuries, and the second passenger no injuries.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for this local area air tour business flight.  The flight originated in Durango, Colorado, at 0710.

According to the pilot, she was descending the balloon for a landing in calm winds when a downdraft was encountered.  The balloon landed hard and one passenger was ejected from the basket.  It then became airborne and ascended to approximately 800 feet above ground level and drifted to the east.  A second landing was made in a field and emergency personnel were called to treat the pilot and one passenger.  The pilot said she broke her ankle in the initial hard landing and injured it further in the second landing.

All three persons aboard were transported to local medical facilities for evaluation and treatment as required.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1992B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1992B-2013-10-29), registration cancelled 2013-10-29, S/N 5281, built 1987 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cameron V-77
- Registry model: [Cameron Balloons US V-77](https://openairdocs.org/model/cameron-balloons-us-v-77) (registry code 1880206) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: 5281
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: Donahower, Karen H.
- Registered owner: Donahower, Karen H.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 30, 1994

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; commercial; medical: unknown; flight hours: 153 total, 153 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DRO, 7 nm away

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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