# NTSB NYC97LA176: Thunder and Colt AX-10, N834TC, Akron, PA, August 31, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 31, 1997, 19:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Akron, PA - Coordinates: 40.16082, -76.19915 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1608&lon=-76.1992&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 9 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 26, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39428 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC97LA176 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39428/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA176 ## Probable cause failure of a passenger to hang onto the ropes, as directed; which allowed another passenger to be struck as the basket tipped over, broking her arm. A related factor was the wind, which was strong enough to tip the basket, while the envelope was deflating. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor) - instructions,written/verbal - not followed, passenger (cause) ## Analysis Before landing, the balloon pilot briefed the passengers to hold onto ropes on the side of the basket and to duck down when told. The pilot performed a steep approach, and the balloon touched down hard. The balloon bounced and came to rest upright. The pilot continue to deflate the envelope; however, the winds caught the envelope and tipped the basket over. One passenger received a broken arm, when another passenger fell against her. The pilot reported that during the landing, the wind velocity was about 8 knots. ## Factual narrative On August 31, 1997, about 1930 eastern daylight time, a Thunder and Colt AX-10, a hot air balloon, N834TC, tipped over upon landing near Akron, Pennsylvania. The certificated commercial pilot and eight passengers were not injured. A ninth passenger received serious injuries. The balloon was not damaged. No flight plan had been filed for the local sight seeing flight. The flight originated from a field near Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, about 1825, and was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot stated: "...I had a smooth standup inflation. I told the passengers to climb in, gave pilot briefing and started my launch. The flight was smooth, I observed a balloon making a smooth stand up landing. I was the 4th of 6 balloons that launched from the field. During the flight, I called for current surface wind, they reported less than 6 [knots] approx. 6:45 PM. After checking winds & looking for signs of slow wind I chose a landing site w/ a tree line. After clearing the trees, I told the passenger[s] to get down for hard landing. I descended into the field, we touched down & then settled in for landing. After balloon was over on side, passenger complain[ed] of pain due to broken arm...." In a follow-up telephone interview, the pilot reported he had used a PIBAL prior to departure and estimated the winds at 5 to 6 knots. He estimated the winds at 8 knots during landing. After the bounce, the basket was upright and stationary. As the envelope continued to deflate, the wind caught it and tipped the basket over on its side. The total distance of the flight from takeoff to landing was about 4 miles. The passenger briefing included hanging onto the ropes during landing, and ducking down when told. In a follow-up telephone interview, the injured passenger reported the balloon touched down hard, bounced and then stopped. She was hanging onto the rope when the basket tipped over and another passenger fell onto her. She was not able to identify the passenger who fell upon her. The investigation revealed the pilot was using a 210,000 cubic foot envelope. The basket was rectangular in shape, about 92 inches long, 61 inches wide, and 43 inches high. The pilot station was along one of the long sides, in the middle, and partitioned off from the rest of the passenger compartment. The passenger compartment was split into two sections approximately 46 inches by 61 inches by a divider running between the pilot station, and the opposite side. Ropes were available inside the passenger compartments, on the edges, for passengers to hang onto. There were no restraining devices to prevent a passenger from falling onto another passenger should the basket tip over. The winds at Lancaster airport, about 5 miles west of the accident site were recorded as from 180 degrees, at 10 knots at 1947. According to personnel familiar with the AX-10, when landing with winds between 5 and 7 knots, with the 210,000 cubic foot envelope, there was a possibility of the basket tipping over. With winds at 8 knots or greater, there was a higher probability of the basket tipping over on landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N834TC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N834TC), registered now, S/N 2475USA (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Thunder and Colt AX-10 - Registry model: [Thunder & Colt Airborne Amer 210A](https://openairdocs.org/model/thunder-colt-airborne-amer-210a) (registry code 2301232) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 2475VSA - Airframe hours: 335 - Engines: unknown - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 91 - Registered owner: Lancaster Balloons Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 21, 1997, 9 hours before - Departed: NONE, STROUDSBURG, PA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; commercial; seat: center; flight hours: 700 total, 100 in this make and model, 700 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: LNS, 4 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 19970831047839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970831047839A), Aug 31, 1997: Cessna 210A, Akrou, PA, No damage. (-16) [privacy data omitted] 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.