- Date
- September 13, 2014, 08:15 local (15:15 UTC)
- Place
- Phoenix, AZ
- Injuries
- 2 minor, 9 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N59EXUltramagic N250 - NO Series
- Defining event
- Landing: Windshear or thunderstorm
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 12, 2015
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20140913019369A
- Case key
- 90179
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 pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while landing in downdraft and gusting wind conditions which resulted in striking trees and a subsequent hard landing.
Findings · 4
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 reported that as the balloon descended to land, about 50 feet above ground level, a wind gust and down draft resulted in a rapid descent and subsequent collision with trees. The balloon landed hard and bounced several times. During the accident sequence, the basket flipped onto its side and was dragged in the dirt, which resulted in substantial damage to the structure. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that as the balloon descended to land, about 50 feet above ground level, a wind gust and down draft resulted in a rapid descent and subsequent collision with trees. The balloon landed hard and bounced several times. During the accident sequence, the basket flipped onto its side and was dragged in the dirt, which resulted in substantial damage to the structure. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N59EX
- Reported as
- Ultramagic N250 - NO Series (NO SERIES)
- Category
- Balloon
- Serial number
- 250/61
- Airframe hours
- 915
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 91
- Operator
- Hot Air Expeditions
- Registered owner
- Mars Leasing
- Airworthiness certificate
- Unknown
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 2, 2014
- Departed
- Phoenix, AZ
- Destination
- Phoenix, 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
- 65
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Last flight review
- May 27, 2014
- Seat
- None
- Restraint
- None
- Flight hours
- 2,600 total · 120 in this make and model · 1,742 as pilot in command · 27 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 88 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.87 inHg
- Observed at
- PHX
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 5, 2015, 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.
Other investigations on N59EX · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.