CAMERON BALLOONS US A-250
Napa, CA — November 11, 2009
Event Information
| Date | November 11, 2009 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | WPR10CA058 |
| Event ID | 20091120X15754 |
| Location | Napa, CA |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 38.36806, -122.28833 |
| Highest Injury | SERS |
Aircraft
| Make | CAMERON BALLOONS US |
| Model | A-250 |
| Category | BALL |
| FAR Part | 091 |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 1 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 12 |
| Total Injured | 1 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot's encounter with variable winds which resulted in a hard landing and passenger injury.
Full Narrative
The pilot of the balloon reported that after three unsuccessful landing attempts during the sightseeing flight, he located a grassy 2-3 acre field and positioned the balloon for landing. He stated that the approach was from the northwest at 500-feet and the balloon was traveling about 6 knots. The pilot anticipated winds near the surface to be from the east, however, after descending to 250-feet the balloon continued in a southerly direction, near trees. The pilot executed a controlled descent over a tree and landed firmly. The basket bounced once and came to rest upright with the balloon's envelope against a tree. After the landing, one of the passengers complained of ankle pain and was transported to a hospital. A medical evaluation revealed that the passenger's ankle was fractured. The pilot reported that a passenger landing briefing was completed prior to landing.
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.