# NTSB LAX08CA112: Ultramagic N-250, N35EX, Buckeye, AZ, April 13, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 13, 2008, 07:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Buckeye, AZ
- Coordinates: 33.497501, -112.510833
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4975&lon=-112.5108&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 10 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 28, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 67839
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX08CA112
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67839/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA112

## Probable cause

The passenger's failure to hear and follow the pilot's instructions to get down in the bottom of the balloon basket before the high wind landing.  A contributing factor was the high wind condition.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Wind: high wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Ultramagic S A N-250, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055/cases.md?model=9130008), [All aircraft, 112 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055/cases.md)
- [Communication (personnel): following instructions](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063537): Personnel issues › Task performance · Passenger (probable cause); cases with it: [Ultramagic S A N-250, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063537/cases.md?model=9130008), [All aircraft, 31 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063537/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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Ultramagic S A N-250, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=9130008), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that prior to departing for the sightseeing flight in the balloon, he gave the 10 passengers a safety briefing. The briefing included instructions on hard landings, which were to hang onto a handle and stay low in the basket. During the flight, the winds increased, and the pilot estimated there was an 18- to 20-mph wind blowing for the landing. Prior to landing, he warned the passengers it would be a "hard rough landing." When the balloon was on final approach, he told the passengers to "grab handles, get down, get way down, stay down." The balloon contacted the ground and was dragged 50 to 70 yards. During the ground drag, the pilot heard one of the passengers yell out that her nose was broken. She had bumped her face on the rail getting down. Additionally, she sustained a broken wrist. Later, the passenger told the pilot that she had "wanted to look, and did not get down in time."  The injured passenger reported that before takeoff, the pilot told the passengers, "if I tell you it's going to be rough, get down in the bottom of the basket." The passenger did not recall whether the pilot told the passengers it was going to be rough before the landing. It was a rough landing, and her son, who was also a passenger, pulled her into the bottom of the basket.

## Factual narrative

In a telephone interview, the pilot stated that prior to departing for the sightseeing flight in the balloon, he gave the 10 passengers a safety briefing. The briefing included instructions on hard landings, which were to hang onto a handle and stay low in the basket. During the flight, the winds increased, and the pilot estimated there was an 18- to 20-mph wind blowing for the landing. Prior to landing, he warned the passengers it would be a "hard rough landing." When the balloon was on final approach, he told the passengers to "grab handles, get down, get way down, stay down." The balloon contacted the ground and was dragged 50 to 70 yards. During the ground drag, the pilot heard one of the passengers yell out that her nose was broken. She had bumped her face on the rail getting down. Additionally, she sustained a broken wrist. Later, the passenger told the pilot that she had "wanted to look, and did not get down in time."

During a telephone interview, the injured passenger reported that before takeoff, the pilot told the passengers, "if I tell you it's going to be rough, get down in the bottom of the basket." The passenger did not recall whether the pilot told the passengers it was going to be rough before the landing. It was a rough landing, and her son, who was also a passenger, pulled her into the bottom of the basket.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N35EX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N35EX-2014-12-18), registration cancelled 2014-12-18, S/N 250/30, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Ultramagic N-250
- Registry model: [Ultramagic S A N-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/ultramagic-s-a-n-250) (registry code 9130008) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: 250/30
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Other work use, Part 91
- Operator: Hot Air Expeditions
- Registered owner: Mars Leasing Co Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: Buckeye, AZ
- Destination: Buckeye, AZ

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; flight hours: 8,000 total, 150 in this make and model, 61 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °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 20080413835969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080413835969A), Apr 13, 2008: Amtr N250, Buckeye, AZ, Minor damage. (-23) During a high wind landing one of the passenger sustained serious injuries. The winds were forecasted to be gusting up to 18 KTS during the flight.

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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