# NTSB NYC04CA177: Avian Falcon II, N15053, Middletown, OH, July 24, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 24, 2004, 09:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Middletown, OH - Coordinates: 39.48611, -84.491111 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4861&lon=-84.4911&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 59742 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC04CA177 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59742/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04CA177 ## Probable cause The passenger's inadvertent fall from the basket, during landing. A factor in this accident was the windy conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, landing - miscellaneous - inadvertent, passenger (cause) - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor) ## Analysis After about a 1 hour flight, the pilot elected to land the balloon in an open field. He noticed that the surface winds had increased to about 11 to 12 knots, and briefed the passenger prior to landing. The balloon touched down in the field, and began to drag along the ground. The basket tipped forward, and the passenger fell out of the basket. The balloon became airborne again, cleared a tree line, and touched down in an adjacent field. The balloon envelope came to rest draped over a power line. The passenger stated she was briefed by the pilot prior to landing; however, she was unable to hold on. Winds reported at an airport located about 16 miles northeast of the accident site, were from 050 degrees at 10 knots. ## Factual narrative On July 24, 2004, about 0930 eastern daylight time, an Avian Falcon II balloon, N15053, sustained minor damage while landing in a field near Middletown, Ohio. The certificated private pilot was not injured, and a passenger sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot and passenger were participating in the Ohio Challenge Balloon Festival. According to the pilot, after about a 1 hour flight, he elected to land in an open field. The pilot noticed that the surface winds had increased to about 11 to 12 knots, and briefed the passenger prior to landing. The balloon touched down in the field, and began to drag along the ground. The basket tipped forward, and the passenger fell out of the basket. The balloon became airborne again, cleared a tree line, and touched down in an adjacent field. The balloon envelope came to rest draped over a power line. The passenger sustained a fractured rib, and three spinal compressions. During an interview, the passenger stated she was briefed by the pilot prior to landing; however, she was unable to hold on. She added that she believed the basket may have contacted a fence during the landing. In a follow-up interview, the pilot stated that the balloon touched down just beyond a single strand electric fence. The basket then tipped over, as it was being dragged by the wind. Winds reported at an airport located about 16 miles northeast of the accident site, at 0853, were from 050 degrees at 10 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N15053](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N15053), registered now, S/N 108, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Avian Falcon II - Registry model: [Avian Balloon FALCON II](https://openairdocs.org/model/avian-balloon-falcon-ii) (registry code 0900102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 108 - Airframe hours: 13 - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert L. Rice - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 5, 2003, 7 hours before - Departed: Middletown, OH ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; private; flight hours: 155 total, 155 in this make and model, 136 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.27 inHg - Observed at: MGY ## 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 20040724028149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040724028149A), Jul 24, 2004: Avianw FALCON2, Middletown, OH, Minor damage. (-23) While attempting to land in a field in strong winds the balloon was dragged and tipped. The crew member a 78-year-OLD spotter was ejected from the… 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.