# NTSB GAA15CA038: Ultramagic M90 - NO Series, N890VB, Sherwood, OR, April 12, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 12, 2015, 07:50 local (14:50 UTC) - Place: Sherwood, OR - Coordinates: 45.343887, -122.879722 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.3439&lon=-122.8797&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 9, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA Portland FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 91014 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA038 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91014/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91014 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA038 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain the descent rate, resulting in a hard landing. ## 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: [Ultramagic M-90, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=9130005), [All aircraft, 9,308 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Ultramagic M-90, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=9130005), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Ultramagic M-90, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=9130005), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The balloon was descending toward a row of trees during an approach to a field. The pilot added heat to make the balloon ascend. Once clear of the trees, the pilot opened a vent to descend and his hand became entangled in the line. The pilot freed his hand and realized that the descent rate was excessive. He maneuvered the balloon for a landing in the field; the balloon bounced, went up about 10 to 15 feet above ground level, and then landed hard. Two passengers sustained broken feet. The balloon sustained substantial damage to 31 fabric panels in the envelope as a result of contact with the burner flames during the landing sequence. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the balloon prior to the flight that would have precluded normal operation of the balloon. ## Factual narrative The balloon was descending toward a row of trees during an approach to a field. The pilot added heat to make the balloon ascend. Once clear of the trees, the pilot opened a vent to descend and his hand became entangled in the line. The pilot freed his hand and realized that the descent rate was excessive. He maneuvered the balloon for a landing in the field; the balloon bounced, went up about 10 to 15 feet above ground level, and then landed hard. Two passengers sustained broken feet. The balloon sustained substantial damage to 31 fabric panels in the envelope as a result of contact with the burner flames during the landing sequence. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the balloon prior to the flight that would have precluded normal operation of the balloon. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N890VB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N890VB), registered now, S/N 90/115, built 2011 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ULTRAMAGIC M90 - NO SERIES (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Ultramagic M-90](https://openairdocs.org/model/ultramagic-m-90) (registry code 9130005) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 90/115 - Year built: 2011 - Airframe hours: 134.3 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: Vista Balloon Adventures Inc - Registered owner: Vista Balloon Adventures Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon - Last inspection: Annual, October 4, 2014 - Departed: 2S6, NEWBERG, OR - Destination: 2S6, NEWBERG, OR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; commercial; last flight review August 26, 2014; seat: none; restraint: none; flight hours: 551.5 total, 19.8 in this make and model, 535.8 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 0.8 in the last 30 days, 0.8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.28 inHg - Observed at: KUAO, 7 nm away ## 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 20150412004189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150412004189A), Apr 12, 2015: Ultramagic M-90, Sherwood, OR, Substantial damage. Pilot of manned free hot air balloon with two pax was making an approach to a field for landing. He noted livestock in the field and opted to try for the next… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 1, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91014. 10.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426929&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of conversation (pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426930&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20conversation%20(pilot)-Master.PDF - Record of conversation (owner) (item 3, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426931&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20conversation%20(owner)-Master.PDF - N890VB damaged panels diagram (diagram courtesy of the owner) (item 4, .PDF, 86 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426934&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=N890VB%20damaged%20panels%20diagram%20(diagram%20courtesy%20of%20the%20owner)-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Damaged Panels (Photo Courtesy of Owner) (item 5, .PDF, 4.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426932&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Damaged%20Panels%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Owner)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Damaged Panels (Photo Courtesy of Owner) (item 6, .PDF, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426933&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Damaged%20Panels%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Owner)-Master.PDF 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.