# NTSB FTW96LA355: Cameron O-65, N2035C, Clinton, LA, August 23, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 23, 1996, 08:20 local (13:20 UTC)
- Place: Clinton, LA
- Coordinates: 30.85938, -91.010688 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.8594&lon=-91.0107&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 3, 1997
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19952
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA355
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19952/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA355

## Probable cause

the instructor pilot's failure to follow recommended procedures to properly brace himself in preparation for landing.

## Sequence of events

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

- Miscellaneous/other, landing
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)

## Analysis

The balloon instructor reported that he and his student had been practicing touch-and-go landings. When they landed for the third time, the instructor sustained a broken ankle. The instructor stated that the 'approach and landing were normal in my estimation and the landing was not excessively hard.  I just must have failed to brace properly.'

## Factual narrative

On August 23, 1996, at 0820 central daylight time, a Cameron Balloon O-65, N2035C, registered to and operated by a private owner under Title 14 CFR Part 91, received minor damage during a hard landing near Clinton, Louisiana.  The commercial instructor pilot received serious injuries, and the student pilot was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the balloon cross country instructional flight, that originated near Zachary, Louisiana, approximately 45 minutes before the accident.  No flight plan was filed.

The balloon instructor reported to the investigator-in-charge that he and his student had been practicing touch-and-go landings.  When they landed for the third time, the instructor sustained a broken ankle.  The instructor stated that the "approach and landing were normal in my estimation and the landing was not excessively hard.  I just must have failed to brace properly."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2035C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2035C-1997-08-23), registration cancelled 1997-08-23, S/N 5382 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cameron O-65
- Registry model: [Cameron Balloons O-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/cameron-balloons-o-65) (registry code 1880106) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: 5382
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Elton H. Mills, Jr.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: NONE, ZACHARY, LA
- Destination: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; flight instructor, commercial; flight hours: 3,500 total, 5 in this make and model, 3,300 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F

## 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 19960823023859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960823023859A), Aug 23, 1996: Camron O65, Parish, LA, Minor damage. Brushed a tree on landing, bounced hard. (-23) during landing, the aircraft bounced into the air resulting in a hard landing. The flight instructor suffered a…

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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