# NTSB LAX90LA206: Thunder and Colt AX9-140, N9112R, Napa, CA, May 2, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 2, 1990, 07:40 local (14:40 UTC)
- Place: Napa, CA
- Coordinates: 38.250816, -122.309494 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2508&lon=-122.3095&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 2, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26830
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX90LA206
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26830/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90LA206

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE TECHNIQUE WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SUDDEN APPEARANCE OF A HIGH WIND CONDITION.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)
  - precautionary landing - attempted, pilot in command
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - descent - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHEN THE FLIGHT BEGAN, THE LOCAL SURFACE WIND WAS NOT OVER 3 MPH. HOWEVER, AS THE FLIGHT PROGRESSED, HE NOTED THAT THE WIND SPEED WAS INCREASING AND HE ELECTED TO TERMINATE THE FLIGHT. THE PILOT SAID THAT WHEN HE TOUCHED DOWN THE SURFACE WIND HAD INCREASED TO BETWEEN 8 AND 12 MPH. THE BALOON LANDED HARD, BOUNCED 30 TO 40 FEET UP IN THE AIR, AND THEN LANDED HARD AGAIN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9112R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9112R-2013-06-07), registration cancelled 2013-06-07, S/N 996, built 1987 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Thunder and Colt AX9-140
- Registry model: [Thunder Balloons AX9-140 SII](https://openairdocs.org/model/thunder-balloons-ax9-140-sii) (registry code 8970116) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: 996
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Balloon Aviation Of Napa
- Departed: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; commercial; flight hours: 661 total, 660 in this make and model, 656 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 64 °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 19900502018459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900502018459A), May 2, 1990: Thundr AX9140S2, Napa, CA. Wind increased during flight. Landed hard bounced ballooned and hit hard again. 12 mph surface wind.

## Other investigations on N9112R (1)

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.

- [NTSB LAX90LA277](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90LA277), Aug 7, 1990: Thunder and Colt AX9-140 SLI (N9112R), Napa, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: FLIGHT'S ENCOUNTER WITH A PROBABLE MICROBURST WEATHER PHENOMENA WITH DOWN DRAFTS AND WINDS BEYOND THE PERFORMANCE CAPABILITY OF THE BALLOON.

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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