# NTSB NYC06CA117: Cameron Balloons Z-120, N1072S, Montvale, VA, May 23, 2006

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 22, 2006, 20:00 local (May 23, 2006, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Montvale, VA
- Coordinates: 37.377223, -79.709724
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3772&lon=-79.7097&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 3, 2006
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Richmond, VA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 63740
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC06CA117
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63740/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC06CA117

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to arrest an excessive descent rate prior to ground contact, which resulted in a hard landing. A factor in the accident were the wind gusts.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - descent - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)

## Analysis

According to the pilot, while attempting to land a hot air balloon, the winds became "gusty" at 10 to 15 knots and he initiated a "high wind landing." According to a passenger, the pilot had told him that it was supposed to "calm." The passenger estimated, however; that the wind was probably around 20 knots. He stated that during the landing the balloon "hit pretty hard" and the basket tipped over horizontally and dragged to a stop. He recalled that when the basket tipped over, another passenger stated that it "felt like something was on her feet" and he later realized that both of her ankles were broken.

## Factual narrative

According to the pilot, while attempting to land a hot air balloon, the winds became "gusty" at 10 to 15 knots and he initiated a "high wind landing." According to a passenger, the pilot had told him that it was supposed to "calm." The passenger estimated, however; that the wind was probably around 20 knots. He stated that during the landing the balloon "hit pretty hard" and the basket tipped over horizontally and dragged to a stop. He recalled that when the basket tipped over, another passenger stated that it "felt like something was on her feet" and he later realized that both of her ankles were broken.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N1072S (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Cameron Balloons Z-120
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: 6396
- Airframe hours: 28.8
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Other work use, Part 91
- Operator: Endeavor Ballooning
- Registered owner: Colin Graham
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2006, 17.55 hours before
- Departed: Fincastle, VA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; last flight review April 1, 2006; flight hours: 559 total, 18 in this make and model, 33 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 310° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observed at: ROA, 12 nm away

## 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 20060522009969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060522009969A), May 22, 2006: Camron Z120, Montvale, VA. (-23) The pilot made a hard landing during a commercial operation. One of the four passengers sustained two broken ankles. There was no damage to 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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