Cameron V-90 N6012C

Summary

On 22 May 2000 at about 00:45 local time, a Cameron V-90 registered N6012C, operated by Airventure Balloon Port, was involved in an accident near Frisco, Texas, United States. 3 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.

Date

22 May 2000 at 00:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Frisco, Texas, United States

Coordinates

33.0300, -96.6703

Aircraft

Cameron V-90

Registration

N6012C

Category

Balloon

Operator

Airventure Balloon Port

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Plano → Frisco

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW00LA152

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's inadequate passenger briefing for a high wind landing. A factor was the wind.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

Prior to landing the balloon, the pilot informed the two passengers that they 'were going to make a fast approach, and it was going to be a hard landing.' He instructed the passengers to 'face the direction the balloon was traveling, bend their knees and hold on to rope handles or the tanks.' When the balloon impacted the ground and 'started a drag', one of the passengers 'lost her grip' and was ejected. While trying to reach for the passenger, the pilot and the other passenger were ejected. The two passengers fell to the ground, and the basket traveled over one of the passengers, who received three cracked ribs. The pilot maintained a grip on the deflation line; however, the balloon ascended approximately 20 feet agl before descending and coming to rest on the ground. The pilot reported the wind speed on landing was 12 knots. A weather reporting station (12 miles east of the accident site) reported the wind speed at 6 knots. The Cameron Balloons US Flight Manual states, in part, 'If it will be a high wind landing or a landing during a rapid vertical descent and it is expected that the basket may rebound or tip over or drag on a corner, the passengers should be briefed to face away from the direction of flight, hold on to the interior basket handle or tank collar in front of them, and crouch slightly. This position is most likely to prevent them from being thrown from the basket on impact or while dragging. It is most critical that the pilot remain in the basket during the landing process.'

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.