- Date
- November 17, 2014, 09:45 local (16:45 UTC)
- Place
- Wittman, AZ
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 2 minor, 9 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N59EXUltramagic N-250
- Defining event
- Landing: Collision during takeoff/land
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 10, 2015
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20141117022589A
- Case key
- 90403
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 control of the balloon when the wind unexpectedly increased which resulted in a collision with trees during the landing.
Findings · 3
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 the purpose of the flight was to take the 11 passengers on a hot-air balloon sightseeing tour. The pilot reviewed the weather forecast for the day which disclosed that wind speeds would be less than 8 mph. The morning departure occurred in calm wind conditions and the pilot maneuvered the balloon for about 30 to 40 minutes before he noticed the wind was becoming stronger. As he descended to land, he noted that the wind was reaching 15 to 20 mph. In an effort to make a quick stop, he attempted to activate the rapid deflation valve, which was slower than he expected. The balloon subsequently collided with a tree which resulted in substantial damage to the basket.
Factual narrative
The pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to take the 11 passengers on a hot-air balloon sightseeing tour. The pilot reviewed the weather forecast for the day which disclosed that wind speeds would be less than 8 mph. The morning departure occurred in calm wind conditions and the pilot maneuvered the balloon for about 30 to 40 minutes before he noticed the wind was becoming stronger. As he descended to land, he noted that the wind was reaching 15 to 20 mph. In an effort to make a quick stop, he attempted to activate the rapid deflation valve, which was slower than he expected. The balloon subsequently collided with a tree which resulted in substantial damage to the basket.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N59EX
- Reported as
- Ultramagic N-250
- Category
- Balloon
- Serial number
- 250/6
- Airframe hours
- 970.9
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation · Part 91
- Operator
- Hot Air Expeditions
- Registered owner
- Mars Leasing
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Balloon
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 2, 2014
- Departed
- Cave Creek, AZ
- Destination
- Deer Valley, AZ
- Equipment
- Handheld GPS
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
- 57
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Last flight review
- July 5, 2014
- Restraint
- None
- Flight hours
- 2,785.3 total · 2,785.3 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 20° at 13 knots, gusting 18
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 12, 2015, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.1 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.