ULTRAMAGIC N250 - NO SERIES
Peoria, AZ — July 31, 2015
Event Information
| Date | July 31, 2015 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | GAA15LA225 |
| Event ID | 20150817X70921 |
| Location | Peoria, AZ |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 33.75333, -112.25584 |
| Highest Injury | SERS |
Aircraft
| Make | ULTRAMAGIC |
| Model | N250 - NO SERIES |
| Category | BALL |
| FAR Part | 091 |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 1 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 10 |
| Total Injured | 1 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot's failure to ensure that the passengers remained secure in the basket during deflation after landing, which resulted in a passenger falling out of the basket and sustaining a serious injury when a wind gust caught the envelope and tipped the basket on its side.
Full Narrative
On July 31, 2015 about 0750 mountain standard time, an Ultramagic SA N250 balloon, N57EX, tipped over during the deflation process after landing in an open field in Peoria, Arizona. The pilot and nine of the ten passengers were not injured. One passenger sustained serious injuries. The balloon sustained no damage. The balloon was registered to the Mars-Leasing Company, Inc. of Phoenix, Arizona, and was operated by Hot Air Expeditions, Inc. of Phoenix, as a day, visual flight rules, passenger flight under 14 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from private property in Phoenix, and was conducted in the local area.
According to the pilot, the accident occurred during the deflation process after landing. The pilot reported that, "all passengers were in landing positions and were advised to stay in their landing positions." When the balloon was approximately 90 percent deflated, a gust of wind caught the fabric that still had trapped hot air. The basket tipped forward and one passenger slid out of the basket. The passenger sustained serious injury. The injured passenger reported that she was briefed by the pilot after the landing that the balloon "may tip" and that she was holding onto the basket.
The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the balloon prior to the flight that would have resulted in abnormal operation of the balloon.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.