# NTSB FTW95LA323: Head Balloons AX8-88, N4516R, Mesquite, TX, July 29, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 29, 1995, 08:00 local (13:00 UTC)
- Place: Mesquite, TX
- Coordinates: 32.759174, -96.589569 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7592&lon=-96.5896&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 19, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19519
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA323
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19519/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA323

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE WEATHER EVALUATION AND THE CREWMEMBER'S FAILURE TO HOLD ONTO THE BASKET. A FACTOR WAS THE HIGH WIND.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water encounter with weather, landing
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, other crewmember (cause)

## Analysis

A SUSTAINED GUST OF WIND OF 15-20 MPH DRAGGED THE BASKET ALONG THE GROUND DURING LANDING. A CREWMEMBER FELL OUT OF THE BASKET WHEN HE STOPPED HOLDING ON TO THE BASKET TO PUT HIS HANDS OVER HIS GLASSES. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE COULD NOT ABORT THE LANDING DUE TO THE LOCATION OF A POWERLINE TRACK.

## Factual narrative

On July 29, 1995, at 0800 central daylight time (CDT), one crewmember received serious injuries during landing in a Head AX8-88 balloon, N4516R.  The private pilot and one other crewmember were not injured.  The balloon sustained minor damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight and no flight plan was filed.  The flight originated at Paschall Park in Mesquite, Texas at 0720 CDT.

In the Pilot/Operator report, the pilot stated that he experienced a "sustained gust of wind of 15-20 mph" while landing.  "The high winds [drug] the balloon for about 100 feet" when one crewmember "rolled out" when "he put his hands over his glasses and quit holding to the basket."  He further stated that he could not abort the landing due to the location of a "powerline track."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4516R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4516R), registered now, S/N 165 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Head Balloons, Inc. AX8-88
- Registry model: [Head Balloons AX8-88](https://openairdocs.org/model/head-balloons-ax8-88) (registry code 4280200) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: 165
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Joseph Reynolds
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 31, 1995, 4 hours before
- Departed: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; private; medical: unknown; flight hours: 160 total, 160 in this make and model, 160 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 15 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19950729048799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950729048799A), Jul 29, 1995: Mesquite, TX, Minor damage. (-16) While landing in a field near Mesquite, TX, a wind gust dragged the balloon along the ground, the basket tipped over, and one passenger was thrown out.…

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.