# NTSB WPR22LA066: Cameron Balloons U S A-315, N317RR, Phoenix, AZ, December 20, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 20, 2021, 08:50 local (15:50 UTC) - Place: Phoenix, AZ - Coordinates: 33.800746, -112.14323 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8007&lon=-112.1432&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious, 15 uninjured; on the ground: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 104429 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA066 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104429/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104429 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA066 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inability to maintain balloon control during a high wind landing, which resulted in a serious passenger injury. ## 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 U S A-315, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1880118), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: high wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons U S A-315, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055/cases.md?model=1880118), [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: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons U S A-315, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=1880118), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons U S A-315, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1880118), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the balloon reported that, while maneuvering to land, he was informed via radio that the wind speed had increased during the flight from about 4 mph to about 14 mph. While on final approach to land, he descended the balloon to about 6 ft above the surface to mitigate surface wind and to level off and fly to the clearing where the balloon landed. After touchdown, the basket was drug on the ground about 20 ft until the balloon came to a complete stop and the envelope deflated. The balloon was not damaged; however, a passenger was seriously injured with a fractured ankle. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N317RR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N317RR), registered now, S/N 6802, built 2018 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CAMERON BALLOONS U S A-315 - Registry model: [Cameron Balloons U S A-315](https://openairdocs.org/model/cameron-balloons-u-s-a-315) (registry code 1880118) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 6802 - Year built: 2018 - Airframe hours: 609.9 - Engines: NA none - Damage: No damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Rainbow Ryders Inc - Registered owner: Rainbow Ryders Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 7, 2021 - Departed: Phoenix, AZ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; injuries: none; commercial; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 12, 2021; seat: front; restraint: none; flight hours: 1,487 total, 131 in this make and model, 1,430 as pilot in command, 89.8 in the last 90 days, 31 in the last 30 days, 1.9 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 12 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: KDVT, 7 nm away - METAR: KDVT 201553Z 01003KT 10SM CLR 10/M02 A3021 RMK AO2 SLP222 T01001017 ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 18, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104429. 742 KB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 627 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13133422&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Incident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 116 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13155644&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=04%20Blank%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20508%20Phone-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.