# NTSB GAA15LA225: Ultramagic N250 - NO Series, N57EX, Peoria, AZ, July 31, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 31, 2015, 07:50 local (14:50 UTC) - Place: Peoria, AZ - Coordinates: 33.753334, -112.255836 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7533&lon=-112.2558&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Standing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 10 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 21, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA Scottsdale FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 91799 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15LA225 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91799/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91799 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15LA225 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to ensure that the passengers remained secure in the basket during deflation after landing, which resulted in a passenger falling out of the basket and sustaining a serious injury when a wind gust caught the envelope and tipped the basket on its side. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Ultramagic S A N-250, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md?model=9130008), [All aircraft, 137 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Ultramagic S A N-250, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=9130008), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Standing: Ground handling event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080); cases with it: [Ultramagic S A N-250, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080/sequence.md?model=9130008), [All aircraft, 108 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080/sequence.md) - [Standing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Ultramagic S A N-250, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=9130008), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during the balloon deflation process after landing and when the balloon was about 90 percent deflated, a wind gust caught the fabric that still had hot air trapped in it. The basket subsequently tipped forward, and one passenger slid out of the basket and sustained a serious injury. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On July 31, 2015 about 0750 mountain standard time, an Ultramagic SA N250 balloon, N57EX, tipped over during the deflation process after landing in an open field in Peoria, Arizona. The pilot and nine of the ten passengers were not injured. One passenger sustained serious injuries. The balloon sustained no damage. The balloon was registered to the Mars-Leasing Company, Inc. of Phoenix, Arizona, and was operated by Hot Air Expeditions, Inc. of Phoenix, as a day, visual flight rules, passenger flight under 14 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from private property in Phoenix, and was conducted in the local area. According to the pilot, the accident occurred during the deflation process after landing. The pilot reported that, "all passengers were in landing positions and were advised to stay in their landing positions." When the balloon was approximately 90 percent deflated, a gust of wind caught the fabric that still had trapped hot air. The basket tipped forward and one passenger slid out of the basket. The passenger sustained serious injury. The injured passenger reported that she was briefed by the pilot after the landing that the balloon "may tip" and that she was holding onto the basket. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the balloon prior to the flight that would have resulted in abnormal operation of the balloon. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N57EX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N57EX-2016-10-24), registration cancelled 2016-10-24, S/N 250/59, built 2010 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ULTRAMAGIC N250 - NO SERIES (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Ultramagic S A N-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/ultramagic-s-a-n-250) (registry code 9130008) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 250/59 - Year built: 2010 - Airframe hours: 967.2 - Damage: No damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: Hot Air Expeditions, Inc. - Registered owner: Mars-Leasing Company, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 3, 2015 - Departed: Phoenix, AZ - Destination: Phoenix, AZ - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; commercial; last flight review October 12, 2013; seat: none; restraint: none; flight hours: 5,000 total, 1,300 in this make and model, 5,000 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: KDVT, 10 nm away ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 9, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91799. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434774&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation Passenger (item 2, .PDF, 161 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434775&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20Passenger%20-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.