# NTSB WPR20CA267: Cameron A 315, N12171, 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, -110.82777 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5875&lon=-110.8278&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, 8 minor, 10 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 101783 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20CA267 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101783/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101783 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA267 ## Probable cause The balloon pilot’s inability to maintain the proper descent rate during the balloon’s approach to landing during un-forecasted weather, which 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: [Cameron Balloons A-315, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1880214), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons A-315, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=1880214), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Wind: downdraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cameron Balloons A-315, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md?model=1880214), [All aircraft, 178 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/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: [Cameron Balloons A-315, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=1880214), [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: [Cameron Balloons A-315, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1880214), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The balloon pilot reported that while on final approach to land, about 20 ft above the ground, he saw two balloons he was following, both on their final approaches, suddenly reverse direction, by a strong wind from the southwest. Shortly after, the accident balloon lifted about 50 ft above the ground, followed by a downdraft. The pilot maneuvered the balloon to land and activated both burners to cushion the landing. When the descent rate was less than 500 ft per minute, he deactivated the burners and shouted to the passengers to “hold on” and pulled the quick vent deflate line before touchdown. The balloon landed hard, skidded on its side about 300 ft, and came to rest against an irrigation ditch embankment. The balloon sustained substantial damage to the envelope and a passenger sustained a serious injury. The balloon pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures to the balloon that would have precluded normal operation. A weather study revealed that the weather encountered by the balloon flight was not forecasted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N12171](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N12171), registered now, S/N 6453, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cameron A 315 (No Series) - Registry model: [Cameron Balloons A-315](https://openairdocs.org/model/cameron-balloons-a-315) (registry code 1880214) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 6453 - Year built: 2006 - Airframe hours: 461.7 - Engines: Cameron Sirocco liquid rocket; Cameron Sirocco liquid rocket; Cameron Sirocco liquid rocket; Cameron Sirocco liquid rocket - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Wyoming Balloon Co - Registered owner: Wyoming Balloon Co - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2019, 10 hours before - Departed: Teton Village, WY ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 25, 2020; seat: center; restraint: none; flight hours: 4,500 total, 400 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn - Lowest ceiling: none - Observed at: KJAC, 6 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 20200803014299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200803014299A), Aug 3, 2020: Cameron Balloons A-315, Jackson, WY, Minor damage. Balloon hit by serious down draft. Forced emergency landing. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 3, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101783. 14.2 MB in all. - Weather study (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12519234&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WX_WPR20CA267_Study-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 2, PDF, 10 pages, 10.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10942013&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20267_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photo (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 125 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11535375&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20267-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.