- Date
- April 14, 2014, 08:20 local (15:20 UTC)
- Place
- Mayer, AZ
- Injuries
- 3 minor, 7 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N2646ZLinstrand 240A
- Defining event
- Enroute: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 18, 2014
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20140414006189A
- Case key
- 89063
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The balloon's encounter with unexpected increased wind, which resulted in a hard landing on rough terrain.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot stated that he checked the weather in the early morning, which prepared him for light wind conditions. After inflation of the balloon, he performed a safety briefing for the passengers and departed shortly thereafter. When the balloon was en route, the ground crew advised the pilot of the high wind conditions. The pilot stated that he was not able to operate in his usual area and therefore had to maneuver the balloon over inhospitable terrain in conditions that did not allow for an immediate landing. The pilot gave the passengers a landing briefing relaying the information that an unexpected increase in surface wind speed prohibited them from landing in the areas that were originally intended. The pilot felt he had limited options suitable for landing and with canyons approaching, he opted to touchdown in an area of rough, volcanic rock. During landing, the basket was strewn across the rough rocky terrain and sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot stated that he checked the weather in the early morning, which prepared him for light wind conditions. After inflation of the balloon, he performed a safety briefing for the passengers and departed shortly thereafter. When the balloon was en route, the ground crew advised the pilot of the high wind conditions. The pilot stated that he was not able to operate in his usual area and therefore had to maneuver the balloon over inhospitable terrain in conditions that did not allow for an immediate landing. The pilot gave the passengers a landing briefing relaying the information that an unexpected increase in surface wind speed prohibited them from landing in the areas that were originally intended. The pilot felt he had limited options suitable for landing and with canyons approaching, he opted to touchdown in an area of rough, volcanic rock. During landing, the basket was strewn across the rough rocky terrain and sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2646Z
- Reported as
- Linstrand 240A
- Category
- Balloon
- Serial number
- 5507
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation · Part 91
- Operator
- Arizona Balloon Works
- Registered owner
- Haf Ent LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- Cottonwood, AZ
- Destination
- Camp Verde, AZ
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 61
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Seat
- None
- Flight hours
- 3,539 total · 1,090 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 10° at 8 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 2, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.0 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.