# NTSB GAA15CA039: Cameron Z90 - NO Series, N681SJ, Bernalillo, NM, February 15, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 15, 2015, 09:10 local (16:10 UTC) - Place: Bernalillo, NM - Coordinates: 35.323055, -106.561943 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3231&lon=-106.5619&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 1, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA Albuquerque FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 91020 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA039 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91020/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91020 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA039 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain the descent rate, resulting in abnormal runway/ground contact. ## 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: [Cameron Balloons Z-90, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1880300), [All aircraft, 9,308 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: high wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cameron Balloons Z-90, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055/cases.md?model=1880300), [All aircraft, 112 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055/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: [Cameron Balloons Z-90, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=1880300), [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: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons Z-90, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=1880300), [All aircraft, 1,130 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons Z-90, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=1880300), [All aircraft, 1,514 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot determined that the wind was faster than anticipated at the landing location. He maneuvered the balloon for a landing in an open field, the gondola landed hard, and fell onto its side. One passenger sustained a broken leg and the balloon sustained no damage. 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 pilot determined that the wind was faster than anticipated at the landing location. He maneuvered the balloon for a landing in an open field, the gondola landed hard, and fell onto its side. One passenger sustained a broken leg and the balloon sustained no damage. 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: [N681SJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N681SJ), registered now, S/N 6710, built 2013 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CAMERON Z90 - NO SERIES (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Cameron Balloons Z-90](https://openairdocs.org/model/cameron-balloons-z-90) (registry code 1880300) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 6710 - Year built: 2013 - Airframe hours: 49 - Damage: No damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Coffing Stephen - Registered owner: Coffing Stephen - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon - Last inspection: Annual, September 3, 2014 - Departed: Albuquerque, NM - Destination: Albuquerque, NM ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; commercial; last flight review March 30, 2014; seat: none; restraint: none; flight hours: 645 total, 77 in this make and model, 645 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: KABQ, 17 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 20150215004019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150215004019A), Feb 15, 2015: Cameron Balloons Z-90, Bernalillo, NM, No damage. On February. 15, 2015 approximately 0815MT, N681SJ a Cameron Z-70 balloon, launched from an open field in albuquerque, NM. The flight lasted approximately 1… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 21, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91020. 911 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 911 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426793&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.