# NTSB GAA16CA014: Kubicek BB, N106KB, Albuquerque, NM, October 8, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 8, 2015, 08:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Albuquerque, NM - Coordinates: 35.189491, -106.689224 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1895&lon=-106.6892&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: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 14 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 17, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 92179 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA014 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92179/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92179 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA014 ## Probable cause A hard landing which resulted in serious injury to a passenger. ## 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: [Balony Kubicek Spol Sro BB100Z, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1370511), [All aircraft, 9,295 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: [Balony Kubicek Spol Sro BB100Z, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=1370511), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md) - [Wind: sudden wind shift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Balony Kubicek Spol Sro BB100Z, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md?model=1370511), [All aircraft, 114 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/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: [Balony Kubicek Spol Sro BB100Z, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1370511), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, after diverting to an alternate landing area due to adverse wind conditions, the pilot maneuvered the balloon to land on a nearby soccer field. The pilot stated that he engaged the smart vent, touched down, bounced, and the balloon touched down a second time and came to a halt. He reported that during the second touchdown, a passenger's knee struck the calf of a fellow passenger, and that the passenger who was struck sustained a broken fibula. No further injuries resulted and damage was not sustained to any portion of the balloon. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies prior to or during the flight that would have prevented normal flight operation. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, after diverting to an alternate landing area due to adverse wind conditions, the pilot maneuvered the balloon to land on a nearby soccer field. The pilot stated that he engaged the smart vent, touched down, bounced, and the balloon touched down a second time and came to a halt. He reported that during the second touchdown, a passenger's knee struck the calf of a fellow passenger, and that the passenger who was struck sustained a broken fibula. No further injuries resulted and damage was not sustained to any portion of the balloon. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies prior to or during the flight that would have prevented normal flight operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N106KB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N106KB), registered now, S/N 1064, built 2014 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: KUBICEK BB (100Z) - Registry model: [Balony Kubicek Spol Sro BB100Z](https://openairdocs.org/model/balony-kubicek-spol-sro-bb100z) (registry code 1370511) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 1064 - Year built: 2014 - Airframe hours: 119 - Engines: 4 BURNER TYPE ENGINES none - Damage: No damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: Philip C. Brandt - Registered owner: Amazing Adventures Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Albuquerque, NM - Destination: Albuquerque, NM - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; commercial; last flight review September 1, 2014; seat: center; restraint: none; flight hours: 7,100 total, 66 in this make and model, 7,010 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.23 inHg - Observed at: ABQ, 9 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 20151008019659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151008019659A), Oct 8, 2015: Balony Kubicek Spol Sro BB100Z, Albuquerque, NM, No damage. At 8:30 am MDT, 10/8/15, Albuquerque, NM. Kubicek A-350 (N106KB) was on landing approach to a field when the pilot had to take the a/c higher due to power… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 14, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92179. 3.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434965&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.