# NTSB LAX02LA150: Thunder and Colt Colt 120 A, N240TC, Moreno Valley, CA, February 23, 2002

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 23, 2002, 08:05 local (16:05 UTC)
- Place: Moreno Valley, CA
- Location: 33.9375° N, 117.2306° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Moreno Valley, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9375&lon=-117.2306&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 3 minor, 6 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 13, 2003
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 54638
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA150
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54638/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54638
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA150

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate handling of the aircraft.  High winds were a contributing factor.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing
  - aircraft handling - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The pilot intended to conduct a 30-minute flight with the nine passengers, and then land in a field where the passengers would exist and another group of passengers would board.  During the landing descent, the pilot encountered high winds.  The balloon struck the ground, and dragged across the ground about 70 yards before coming to a stop.

## Factual narrative

On February 23, 2002, at 0805 Pacific standard time, a Thunder and Colt, Colt 120A balloon, N240TC, landed hard near Moreno Valley, California.  One passenger was seriously injured; three passengers suffered minor injuries; and the commercial certificated pilot and five remaining passengers were not injured.  The hot air balloon received minor damage.  The local area sightseeing flight was operated by The Great American Balloon Company under 14 CFR Part 91, and departed from the Perris Valley, California, airport at 0710.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.

The pilot reported that he intended to conduct the flight for about 30 minutes, land in a field,  where the passengers would disembark, and another gruop of passengers would board.  During the landing descent, the pilot enountered high ground winds, and subsequently attempted to conduct a high-wind landing.  The balloon struck the ground, and then dragged across the ground for about 70 yards.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N240TC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N240TC-2013-10-29), registration cancelled 2013-10-29, S/N 1975, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Thunder and Colt Colt 120 A
- Registry model: [Thunder & Colt COLT 120A](https://openairdocs.org/model/thunder-colt-colt-120a) (registry code 8970122) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: N249TC
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Eric D. Moore
- Departed: L65, Perris
- Destination: Moreno Valley, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; commercial; last flight review June 1, 2001; flight hours: 922 total, 922 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 17 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F

## 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 20020223002999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020223002999A), Feb 23, 2002: Colt COLT120A, Moreno Valley, CA, Minor damage. (-23) 02/23/2002, Hot air balloon, thunder & Colt model 120A, on pleasure flight with 9 passengers and 1 pilot, due to high winds forced landed in an open…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 20, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54638. 1.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 515 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40389553&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Police Report (Initial) (item 2, .PDF, 659 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40389554&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Police%20Report%20(Initial)-Redacted.PDF
- Police Report (Supplemental) (item 3, .PDF, 239 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40389555&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Police%20Report%20(Supplemental)-Redacted.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.

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