# NTSB WPR20CA263: Lindstrand 310A, N971LB, Jackson, WY, August 3, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 3, 2020, 08:13 local (14:13 UTC) - Place: Jackson, WY - Coordinates: 43.587501, -110.8279 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5875&lon=-110.8279&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: 2 serious, 22 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 101773 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20CA263 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101773/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101773 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA263 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inability to arrest the descent rate when the balloon encountered unforecasted high ground wind that resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 310A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=5190014), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 310A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=5190014), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md) - [Wind: high wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 310A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055/cases.md?model=5190014), [All aircraft, 112 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 310A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=5190014), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 310A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=5190014), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that before the flight he checked the weather in the area for the balloon flight which indicated light and variable wind conditions about 4-5 knots and no forecasted weather that would adversely affect the flight. At the conclusion of the flight, and as the balloon approached the ground, the wind picked up causing the balloon to descend and the basket lightly touched the ground. After recovery from the unintended landing, the pilot maneuvered to land the balloon. The balloon picked up and gained altitude when there was a sudden 180o wind shift. The ground speed increased, and the balloon started a descent. The pilot used multiple burners but could not arrest the rate of descent. The pilot commanded the passengers to get down and the balloon touched down around 20 mph on an irrigation ditch which tilted the basket. The pilot was ejected from the basket and the balloon drifted back into the air. The pilot yelled to the passengers to pull the red Q-vent line for a fast deflation system to stop the balloon from climbing higher. The balloon started its descent back into the high ground wind, landed and was dragged into a cattle fence. The pilot was not injured. Two passengers were seriously injured, and 13 passengers received minor injuries. The balloon was not damaged. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation. A weather study of the area revealed that the weather encountered was not forecasted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N971LB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N971LB), registered now, S/N 5489 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Lindstrand 310A (No Series) - Registry model: [Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 310A](https://openairdocs.org/model/arbc-inc-dba-lindstrand-310a) (registry code 5190014) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 5489 - Year built: 2011 - Airframe hours: 349 - Engines: Lindstrand BU 1367 liquid rocket - Damage: No damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Wyoming Balloon Co - Registered owner: Wyoming Balloon Co - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2019, 349 hours before - Departed: Jackson, WY - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; flight engineer, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 9, 2020; seat: center; restraint: none; flight hours: 20,000 total, 100 in this make and model, 18,700 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 14,000 ft broken - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.28 inHg - Observed at: KJAC, 4 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 20200803014289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200803014289A), Aug 3, 2020: Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 310A, Jackson, WY, Minor damage. 180 Degree change in direction and serious down draft caused balloon to strike ground ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 26, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101773. 5.7 MB in all. - Weather study (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11430968&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WX_WPR20CA263_Study-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 2, PDF, 17 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10944148&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20263_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photo (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 218 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11534923&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20263-Rel.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.