# NTSB GAA17CA082: Cameron A315, N69520, Winters, CA, November 14, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 14, 2016, 08:50 local (16:50 UTC) - Place: Winters, CA - Coordinates: 38.597778, -121.891113 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5978&lon=-121.8911&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, 14 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 6, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 94444 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA082 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94444/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94444 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA082 ## Probable cause The passenger's improper egress from the balloon basket, which resulted in a serious injury. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Passenger (probable cause); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons U S A-315, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/cases.md?model=1880118), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/cases.md) - [Wind: high wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cameron Balloons U S A-315, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055/cases.md?model=1880118), [All aircraft, 112 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055/cases.md) - [Knowledge: reading/language comprehension](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032045): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Passenger; cases with it: [Cameron Balloons U S A-315, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032045/cases.md?model=1880118), [All aircraft, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032045/cases.md) - [Communication (personnel): language/accent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063525): Personnel issues › Task performance · Passenger; cases with it: [Cameron Balloons U S A-315, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063525/cases.md?model=1880118), [All aircraft, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063525/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons U S A-315, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=1880118), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Standing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons U S A-315, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=1880118), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of a balloon reported that while aloft he observed the wind increase to about 10 miles per hour, so he briefed his passengers on how to brace for a "high wind landing" and possible basket tip-over. The pilot further reported that he descended to about 3 feet above ground, and once over the target landing area he "shut off [the] fuel tanks and burners then pulled the smart vent (rapid deflation valve)." Subsequently, on touch down the basket bounced once and skidded about 15 to 20 yards before stopping with the basket tipping over on its side. The pilot reported that he secured the basket and while the passengers were exiting the basket, his ground crew informed him that a passenger had injured her ankle. According to the pilot, the injured passenger did not speak English as her first language and he was unsure if she braced appropriately for the landing or if she sustained the serious injury while exiting the basket. The pilot reported that another passenger informed him that the passenger sustained the injury while she was exiting the basket. The pilot did not report any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot of a balloon reported that while aloft he observed the wind increase to about 10 miles per hour, so he briefed his passengers on how to brace for a "high wind landing" and possible basket tip-over. The pilot further reported that he descended to about 3 feet above ground, and once over the target landing area he "shut off [the] fuel tanks and burners then pulled the smart vent (rapid deflation valve)." Subsequently, on touch down the basket bounced once and skidded about 15 to 20 yards before stopping with the basket tipping over on its side. The pilot reported that he secured the basket and while the passengers were exiting the basket, his ground crew informed him that a passenger had injured her ankle. According to the pilot, the injured passenger did not speak English as her first language and he was unsure if she braced appropriately for the landing or if she sustained the serious injury while exiting the basket. The pilot reported that another passenger informed him that the passenger sustained the injury while she was exiting the basket. The pilot did not report any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N69520](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N69520), registered now, S/N 6742, built 2014 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CAMERON A315 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Cameron Balloons U S A-315](https://openairdocs.org/model/cameron-balloons-u-s-a-315) (registry code 1880118) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 6742 - Year built: 2014 - Airframe hours: 358.5 - Engines: unknown - Damage: No damage - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Operator: Napa Valley Balloons Inc. - Registered owner: Napa Valley Balloons Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 26, 2016 - Departed: DWA, DAVIS/WOODLAND/WINTERS, CA - Destination: DWA, DAVIS/WOODLAND/WINTERS, CA - Airport: DWA, Yolo County - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; commercial; last flight review May 27, 2015; seat: center; restraint: none; flight hours: 8,721 total, 8,688 as pilot in command, 81 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 5 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: KEDU, 8 nm away ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 12, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94444. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448240&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (Pilot in Command) (item 2, .PDF, 168 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448241&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Pilot%20in%20Command)-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.