# NTSB WPR24LA245: Kubicek Factory S R O BB26Z, N307CK, Casper, WY, July 13, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 13, 2024, 06:50 local (12:50 UTC)
- Place: Casper, WY
- Coordinates: 42.834866, -106.2493 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8349&lon=-106.2493&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: 1 serious, 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: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 194700
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA245
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194700/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194700
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA245

## Probable cause

The pilot's inability to maintain control of the balloon after encountering high wind conditions and windshear during the landing, which resulted in the pilot’s ejection from the basket and serious 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: [Kubicek Factory S R O BB26Z, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1380503), [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: [Kubicek Factory S R O BB26Z, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055/cases.md?model=1380503), [All aircraft, 112 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055/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: [Kubicek Factory S R O BB26Z, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=1380503), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Kubicek Factory S R O BB26Z, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=1380503), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Kubicek Factory S R O BB26Z, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1380503), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the balloon stated reported that, during the hour-long flight, the surface winds had increased. During the landing, the pilot “vented out the air to descend” and the balloon “hit the ground hard.” Witnesses who observed the balloon’s approach to the landing field stated the balloon began a rapid descent. Subsequently, the balloon landed hard, and the basket tipped over. The pilot was ejected, resulting in serious injury. The balloon pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N307CK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N307CK), registered now, S/N 2056 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: KUBICEK FACTORY S R O BB26Z
- Registry model: [Kubicek Factory S R O BB26Z](https://openairdocs.org/model/kubicek-factory-s-r-o-bb26z) (registry code 1380503) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: 2056
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: City Of Riverton
- Registered owner: City Of Riverton
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon
- Destination: Same as departure
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 72; injuries: serious; commercial; seat: none; restraint: none

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observed at: KCPR, 11 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 20240713021089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240713021089A), Jul 13, 2024: Kubicek Factory S R O BB26Z, Casper, WY, No damage. As pilot was landing balloon the wind picked up and as she vented out air, the basket hit the ground hard expelling her from the basket. As the balloon lifted…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 21, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194700. 8.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 6 pages, 7.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17716286&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Flattened-Rel.pdf
- Witness statements (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 41 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17715884&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 696 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18310740&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.

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