# NTSB WPR10CA058: Cameron Balloons US A-250, N4062M, Napa, CA, November 11, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 11, 2009, 09:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Napa, CA - Coordinates: 38.368057, -122.28833 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3681&lon=-122.2883&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 12 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 3, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 75076 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10CA058 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75076/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75076 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA058 ## Probable cause The pilot's encounter with variable winds which resulted in a hard landing and passenger injury. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: variable wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons US A-250, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md?model=1880119), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons US A-250, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1880119), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the balloon reported that after three unsuccessful landing attempts during the sightseeing flight, he located a grassy 2-3 acre field and positioned the balloon for landing. He stated that the approach was from the northwest at 500-feet and the balloon was traveling about 6 knots. The pilot anticipated winds near the surface to be from the east; however, after descending to 250-feet the balloon continued in a southerly direction, near trees. The pilot executed a controlled descent over a tree and landed firmly. The basket bounced once and came to rest upright with the balloon's envelope against a tree. After the landing, one of the passengers complained of ankle pain and was transported to a hospital. A medical evaluation revealed that the passenger's ankle was fractured. The pilot reported that a passenger landing briefing was completed prior to landing. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the balloon reported that after three unsuccessful landing attempts during the sightseeing flight, he located a grassy 2-3 acre field and positioned the balloon for landing. He stated that the approach was from the northwest at 500-feet and the balloon was traveling about 6 knots. The pilot anticipated winds near the surface to be from the east, however, after descending to 250-feet the balloon continued in a southerly direction, near trees. The pilot executed a controlled descent over a tree and landed firmly. The basket bounced once and came to rest upright with the balloon's envelope against a tree. After the landing, one of the passengers complained of ankle pain and was transported to a hospital. A medical evaluation revealed that the passenger's ankle was fractured. The pilot reported that a passenger landing briefing was completed prior to landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4062M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4062M), registered now, S/N 6508, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CAMERON BALLOONS US A-250 - Registry model: [Cameron Balloons US A-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/cameron-balloons-us-a-250) (registry code 1880119) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 6508 - Airframe hours: 350 - Damage: No damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: Napa Valley Balloons Inc - Registered owner: Napa Valley Balloons Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 31, 2009 - Departed: Yountville, CA - Destination: Napa, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; commercial; medical: class 3, unknown; flight hours: 5,465 total, 360 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 145° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg ## 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 20091111023139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091111023139A), Nov 11, 2009: Camron A250, Napa, CA, No damage. Commercial sight seeing flight. Erratic wind changes throughout the flight. They were not forcasted when pilot received weather briefing. Attempted three… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 27, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75076. 718 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 718 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40321694&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.