# NTSB LAX80DVW17: Cutter 2, N73WB, Las Vegas, NV, May 18, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: May 18, 1980
- Place: Las Vegas, NV · LAS VEGAS, NV
- Location: 36.1750° N, 115.1372° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Las Vegas, NV, within about 7 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1750&lon=-115.1372&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report July 9, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 130993
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX80DVW17
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80DVW17

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1505  80/5/18    LAS VEGAS,NV        CUTTER 2            CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 46, 15700
        TIME - 0845                    N73WB               PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 1695 IN
                                       DAMAGE-NONE         OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LAS VEGAS,NV                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: OBJECT                                    LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - POORLY PLANNED APPROACH
        REMARKS- GONDOLA ENTANGLED TARGET BALLOON AFT PLT PULLED DEFLATION PLUG,FELL FM 35FT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N73WB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N73WB), registered now, S/N WC-2, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CUTTER 2
- Registry model: [Cutter CUTTER-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/cutter-cutter-2) (registry code 0563781) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon, amateur-built
- Engines: none
- Damage: No damage

## 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 19800518015499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800518015499A), May 18, 1980: Amtr C2CUTTER, Las Vegas, NV. Struck target balloon on landing. Deflated. Basket hung on side of target balloon, then dropped to ground.

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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