# NTSB SEA08LA119: Cameron Balloons C-100, N6004K, Phoenix, AZ, May 3, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 3, 2008, 07:20 local (14:20 UTC) - Place: Phoenix, AZ - Coordinates: 33.7975, -112.136947 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7975&lon=-112.1369&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 67926 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA08LA119 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67926/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08LA119 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate weather evaluation during the landing approach. Contributing to the accident were windshear and rocky terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: windshear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons US C-100, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020/cases.md?model=1880226), [All aircraft, 90 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: weather planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons US C-100, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020/cases.md?model=1880226), [All aircraft, 156 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020/cases.md) - [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons US C-100, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=1880226), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390) (defining event); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons US C-100, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md?model=1880226), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons US C-100, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1880226), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the approach to landing, the balloon's descent rate was about 300 feet per minute. About 200 feet above the ground the balloon encountered a strong windshear, increasing its horizontal speed over the ground to about 30 knots. The balloon continued descending at about 300 feet per minute until touching down, at which time its basket tilted over and began to drag for about 200 yards, with the last 125 yards over rocky ground. One of the passengers sustained a serious injury due to his arm being stuck between the basket and the ground. The chase crew arrived at the scene about 40 seconds later. No anomalies were reported with the balloon prior to the flight. ## Factual narrative On May 3, 2008, about 0720 mountain standard time, a Cameron Balloons C-100, N6004K, received minor damage following a hard landing near Phoenix, Arizona. The certificated private pilot and one passenger received minor injuries, one passenger received a serious injury, and one passenger was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight, which was operated in accordance with 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91, and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed from a location about 3 miles east of the landing site at 0620. In a statement submitted by the pilot, it was reported that during the approach to landing, the balloon's rate of descent was about 300 feet per minute (fpm). The pilot stated that about 200 feet above ground level (agl) he encountered a very strong wind shear, which caused the balloon to rapidly accelerate to 25 to 30 knots in the descent. The pilot reported that as the approach continued he managed to get enough heat into the balloon to avoid a hard vertical landing; however, the balloon was descending at 200 to 300 fpm during touchdown, moving horizontally at 25 to 30 knots. The pilot noted that after touching down the balloon's basket immediately tilted over and began dragging. The pilot stated, "The first 75 yards were [a] textbook, high wind landing; everyone was low in the basket. Then we moved into rocky ground and continued to drag for another 100 to 125 yards, with one passenger getting his arm stuck between the basket and the ground. The chase crew was only 20 to 40 seconds away." The pilot reported minor damage to the balloon, and that no anomalies existed with the balloon prior to the flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6004K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6004K), registered now, S/N 5981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cameron Balloons C-100 - Registry model: [Cameron Balloons US C-100](https://openairdocs.org/model/cameron-balloons-us-c-100) (registry code 1880226) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 5981 - Airframe hours: 440 - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Dwayne D Osborne - Registered owner: Sandra K Carter - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2007 - Departed: Phoenix, AZ - Destination: Phoenix, AZ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; private; last flight review March 1, 2007; flight hours: 539 total, 400 in this make and model, 509 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 9 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: DVT, 8 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 20080503838259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080503838259A), May 3, 2008: Camron C100, Peoria, AZ, Minor damage. (-23)Pilot failed to maintain control during landing, due to increase in airspeed prior to touchdown. The balloon drug its basket for a long distance, and into… 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.