Cameron Balloons Z-120 N1072S

Summary

On 23 May 2006 at about 00:00 local time, a Cameron Balloons Z-120 registered N1072S, operated by Endeavor Ballooning, was involved in an accident near Montvale, Virginia, 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.

Date

23 May 2006 at 00:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Montvale, Virginia, United States

Coordinates

37.3772, -79.7097

Aircraft

Cameron Balloons Z-120

Registration

N1072S

Category

Balloon

Operator

Endeavor Ballooning

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fincastle → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

NYC06CA117

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's failure to arrest an excessive descent rate prior to ground contact, which resulted in a hard landing. A factor in the accident were the wind gusts.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, while attempting to land a hot air balloon, the winds became "gusty" at 10 to 15 knots and he initiated a "high wind landing." According to a passenger, the pilot had told him that it was supposed to "calm." The passenger estimated, however; that the wind was probably around 20 knots. He stated that during the landing the balloon "hit pretty hard" and the basket tipped over horizontally and dragged to a stop. He recalled that when the basket tipped over, another passenger stated that it "felt like something was on her feet" and he later realized that both of her ankles were broken.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.