Thunder and Colt AX9-140 N9112R
2 May 1990 · Napa, California, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 2 May 1990 at about 14:40 local time, a Thunder and Colt AX9-140 registered N9112R was involved in an accident near Napa, California, United States. 5 people were on board and one was seriously injured. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 14:40
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Napa, California, United States
- Coordinates
- 38.2508, -122.3095
- Aircraft
- Thunder and Colt AX9-140
- Registration
- N9112R
- Category
- Balloon
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Not recorded
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX90LA206
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE TECHNIQUE WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SUDDEN APPEARANCE OF A HIGH WIND CONDITION.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHEN THE FLIGHT BEGAN, THE LOCAL SURFACE WIND WAS NOT OVER 3 MPH. HOWEVER, AS THE FLIGHT PROGRESSED, HE NOTED THAT THE WIND SPEED WAS INCREASING AND HE ELECTED TO TERMINATE THE FLIGHT. THE PILOT SAID THAT WHEN HE TOUCHED DOWN THE SURFACE WIND HAD INCREASED TO BETWEEN 8 AND 12 MPH. THE BALOON LANDED HARD, BOUNCED 30 TO 40 FEET UP IN THE AIR, AND THEN LANDED HARD AGAIN.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Thunder and Colt AX9 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Aug 1990 | Thunder and Colt AX9-140 SLI | Napa, California, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 2 Dec 1995 | Thunder and Colt AX9-140 | Gallup, New Mexico, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Apr 1990 | Cessna 180 | Soledad, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 10 Oct 1990 | Cessna 150 | Riverside, California, United States | PAR Flight | No injuries | - |
| 17 Apr 1990 | Piper PA46 | Paso Robles, California, United States | Piper Aircraft Corp. | No injuries | - |
| 7 Oct 1990 | Cessna 182M | Bakersfield, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 1 Apr 1990 | Piper J-3 | Creston, California, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 11 Oct 1990 | Bell 47G4 | Merced, California, United States | John W. Myers | Serious injuries | - |