# NTSB LAX95LA172: Thunder and Colt Colt 180A, N738TC, Tucson, AZ, April 27, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 27, 1995, 08:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Tucson, AZ - Coordinates: 32.189086, -110.979438 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1891&lon=-110.9794&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 6 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 24, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29081 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA172 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29081/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA172 ## Probable cause the inability of the pilot to compensate for the wind conditions which resulted in the basket tipping over following touchdown during a high-wind landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - open field - weather condition - high wind - compensation for wind conditions - not possible, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis NEAR THE CONCLUSION OF THE HOUR-LONG AERIAL SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT, THE PILOT RECOGNIZED THAT IT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO PERFORM A HIGH-WIND LANDING, AND THE BASKET MIGHT TIP OVER. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE INFORMED HIS PASSENGERS TO PREPARE THEMSELVES FOR THE HIGH-WIND LANDING, AND THEY ALL APPEARED TO APPROPRIATELY RESPOND. JUST BEFORE TOUCHDOWN, THE PILOT RIPPED OUT THE BALLOON TOP IN ORDER TO CONCLUDE THE FLIGHT. THE PILOT ALSO STATED THAT THE BASKET TOUCHED DOWN SMOOTHLY IN A VERY LARGE FIELD. HOWEVER, AFTER TOUCHDOWN IT TIPPED OVER BECAUSE THE WIND AT GROUND LEVEL WAS BLOWING AT 7 KNOTS. ## Factual narrative On April 27, 1995, at 0800 mountain standard time, a Thunder & Colt, Colt 180A balloon, N738TC, tipped over during a high-wind landing near Tucson, Arizona. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The balloon was not damaged. The commercial pilot and five of the six passengers were not injured. The sixth passenger was seriously injured. The fare-paying passengers boarded the balloon for the aerial sightseeing flight from near Tucson, Arizona, around 0700. The pilot reported that he realized the basket might tip over upon landing, so he informed his passengers to prepare themselves for a high-wind landing in accordance with his previously issued directions. The ten-passenger-capacity balloon was compartmentalized, and all of the passengers appeared to respond appropriately for the landing. Just before touchdown, the pilot ripped out the balloon top in order to conclude the flight. The pilot also stated that the basket touched down smoothly in a very large field. However, after touchdown it tipped over because the wind at ground level was blowing at 7 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N738TC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N738TC-2015-05-05), registration cancelled 2015-05-05, S/N 2292, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Thunder and Colt COLT 180A - Registry model: [Thunder & Colt Airborne Amer COLT 180A](https://openairdocs.org/model/thunder-colt-airborne-amer-colt-180a) (registry code 2301219) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 2292 - Airframe hours: 225 - Engines: unknown - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 91 - Operator: A Balloon Experience - Registered owner: Joe Fendler - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 3, 1995, 40 hours before - Departed: NONE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown; flight hours: 1,734 total, 11 in this make and model, 1,690 as pilot in command, 141 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 135° at 7 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °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 19950427030899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950427030899A), Apr 27, 1995: Amtrco COLT105, Tucson, AZ. High wind landing. Basket tipped over seriously injuring a passenger. ## Other investigations on N738TC (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 LAX95LA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA036), Nov 15, 1994: Thunder and Colt TC-180 (N738TC), Peoria, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: the flight's encounter with unforecasted high winds which resulted in a hard landing. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.