# NTSB LAX93LA106: Eagle C-7, N7000J, San Juan Bautis, CA, January 24, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 24, 1993, 09:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place: San Juan Bautis, CA
- Coordinates: 36.830581, -121.509117 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8306&lon=-121.5091&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 25, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27914
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX93LA106
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27914/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA106

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE INFLIGHT PLANNING AND THE UNFAVORABLE WINDS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

IN HIS WRITTEN STATEMENT, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE AND HIS TWO PASSENGERS LIFTED OFF AT 0800 HOURS FOR A SIGHT SEEING FLIGHT. HE SAID THE WINDS WERE CALM AT THE TIME OF LIFT OFF BUT ABOUT AN HOUR LATER WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND, THE WINDS INCREASED IN VELOCITY. HE SAID THAT DUE TO FLOODED AREAS, OBSTRUCTIONS, AND 'BRISK' GROUND WINDS, HE ABORTED SEVERAL LANDING ATTEMPTS. THE PILOT FOUND A CLEAR, OPEN AND DRY LANDING AREA. ON THE FIRST LANDING ATTEMPT, THE BASKET TIPPED AND ONE PASSENGER FELL PARTIALLY OUT OF THE BASKET. HE AND THE OTHER PASSENGER PULLED THE PASSENGER BACK IN THE BASKET. THE PILOT SAID THE BALLOON THEN LIFTED OVER A FENCE, COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND, AND TIPPED AGAIN. THE TWO PASSENGERS FELL OUT OF THE BASKET AND WERE DRAGGED BY THE BALLOON UNTIL IT STOPPED. THE PILOT SAID THE WINDS WERE 10 MILES PER HOUR GUSTING TO 15 MILES PER HOUR WHEN HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7000J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7000J-1999-11-09), registration cancelled 1999-11-09, S/N E81710 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Eagle Aircraft Co. C-7
- Registry model: [Eagle Balloons C-7](https://openairdocs.org/model/eagle-balloons-c-7) (registry code 3240207) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: E81710
- Airframe hours: 598
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Myron Farnham
- Registered owner: Myron Farnham
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 12, 1992, 62 hours before
- Departed: NONE, MORGAN HILL, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; commercial; flight hours: 2,200 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °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 19930124001059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930124001059A), Jan 24, 1993: Eagleb EAGLEC7, San Juan Bautis, CA. Made 2 hard touchdowns landing in gusty winds. Basket tipped and dragged. 2 passengers fell out of basket. Injured.

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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