# NTSB GAA19CA484: Cameron A 210, N6533Q, Hume, NY, August 2, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 1, 2019, 20:00 local (Aug 2, 2019, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Hume, NY - Coordinates: 42.475833, -78.137222 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4758&lon=-78.1372&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, 8 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 11, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 100002 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA484 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100002/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100002 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA484 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain a proper descent rate during landing, which resulted in a hard landing and a serious passenger injury. ## 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 US A-210, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1880215), [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: [Cameron Balloons US A-210, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=1880215), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: thermal lifting](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cameron Balloons US A-210, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040/cases.md?model=1880215), [All aircraft, 53 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons US A-210, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=1880215), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons US A-210, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1880215), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, after the balloon encountered a thermal en route, he decided to land it in a hayfield surrounded by a wooded area. He added that the balloon was "driven down into the tree branches," and when over the hayfield, it descended and bounced hard to about 10 ft as he deflated the envelope. The balloon landed hard again and then deflated. One passenger 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, after encountering a thermal en route, he decided to land the balloon in a hayfield surrounded by a wooded area. The balloon was "driven down into the tree branches" and, when over the hayfield, the balloon descended and bounced hard. The balloon bounced about 10 ft as he deflated the envelope. The balloon landed hard once more and deflated. One passenger received 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: [N6533Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6533Q), registered now, S/N 6617, built 2011 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cameron A 210 (No Series) - Registry model: [Cameron Balloons US A-210](https://openairdocs.org/model/cameron-balloons-us-a-210) (registry code 1880215) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 6617 - Year built: 2011 - Airframe hours: 477.6 - Damage: No damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon - Last inspection: Annual, April 16, 2019 - Destination: Letchworth, NY - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; commercial; last flight review March 27, 2019; seat: rear; restraint: none; flight hours: 2,690 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 2,690 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: KOLE, 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 20190801016279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190801016279A), Aug 1, 2019: Cameron Balloons US A-210, Hume, NY, No damage. On August 1, 2019 at approximately 2000 EDT, aircraft N6533Q, a Cameron balloon model A-210, serial # 6617, encountered inclement weather while flying in the… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 23, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100002. 3.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477023&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.