# NTSB GAA19CA314: Cameron A-275, N3004S, Sedona, AZ, June 5, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 5, 2019, 06:35 local (13:35 UTC) - Place: Sedona, AZ - Coordinates: 34.82389, -111.907501 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8239&lon=-111.9075&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 17 uninjured; on the ground: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99554 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA314 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99554/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99554 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA314 ## Probable cause The balloon’s encounter with rough terrain, which resulted in a bounced landing and a ground crewmember sustaining serious injuries. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons US A-275, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=1880445), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons US A-275, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=1880445), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, as the balloon touched down, one of the ground crewmembers jumped into the basket to add his weight. As the balloon was coming to a stop, it encountered some rough terrain hidden by tall grass. The balloon bounced, and the ground crewmember was ejected from the basket and landed on the ground. The pilot added that the balloon "came up off the ground again and over the crew member." The crewmember sustained serious injuries. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The balloon pilot reported that, as the balloon touched down, one of the ground crew personnel jumped into the basket to add his weight. As the balloon was coming to a stop, it encountered some rough terrain hidden by tall grass. The balloon bounced and the ground crew member was ejected from the basket and landed on the ground. The balloon "came up off the ground again and over the crew member." The crew member suffered serious injuries. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3004S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3004S), registered now, S/N 6863, built 2018 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cameron A-275 (No Series) - Registry model: [Cameron Balloons US A-275](https://openairdocs.org/model/cameron-balloons-us-a-275) (registry code 1880445) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 6863 - Year built: 2018 - Airframe hours: 99.9 - Damage: No damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: P-Marks Plus Inc, doing business as Red Rock Balloons - Registered owner: P-Marks Plus Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 21, 2019 - Departed: Sedona, AZ - Destination: Sedona, AZ - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; commercial; last flight review January 13, 2018; seat: front; flight hours: 6,127 total, 845 in this make and model, 6,127 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: KPRC, 27 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 20190605011189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190605011189A), Jun 5, 2019: Cameron Balloons US A-275, Sedona, AZ, No damage. On 6-5-2019 during the landing of N3004S in Sedona, AZ, a ground person elected to jump on the balloon basket platform to attempt to slow it down, the ground… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 18, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99554. 3.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474280&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.