Cameron Balloons Us V-90 N2097H
31 January 2009 · La Junta, Colorado, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 31 January 2009 at about 18:30 local time, a Cameron Balloons Us V-90 registered N2097H was involved in an accident near La Junta, Colorado, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was slightly damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 18:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- La Junta, Colorado, United States
- Coordinates
- 37.9433, -103.5136
- Aircraft
- Cameron Balloons Us V-90
- Registration
- N2097H
- Category
- Balloon
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Colorado Spring → La Junta
- Aircraft damage
- Minor
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- CEN09CA159
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain a safe rate of descent during landing. Contributing to the accident was the strong surface winds.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
While landing a hot air balloon, the pilot encountered surface winds estimated at 22 mph and gusting to 28 mph. At 20 to 25 feet above ground level, the pilot shut off the burner and prepared for the landing. The hot air balloon descended 400 to 450 feet per minute, impacted hard on downward sloping terrain, and was dragged approximately 360 feet by the wind before coming to rest. The pilot suffered two broken ankles. There were no reported pre-impact anomalies.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Feb 2009 | Aviat A-1C | Denver, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 26 Feb 2009 | Cessna 172N | Broomfield, Colorado, United States | Alliance Flight Training, LLC | No injuries | - |
| 10 Jun 2009 | Boeing 757-222 | Denver, Colorado, United States | United Air Lines Inc | No injuries | - |
| 22 Apr 2009 | Cessna 182T | Rangely, Colorado, United States | Global Lease Finance LLC | No injuries | - |
| 23 Aug 2009 | Cessna CE-560 | Kremmling, Colorado, United States | NetJets | Serious injuries | - |
| 9 Aug 2009 | Piper PA-18 | Aspen, Colorado, United States | Culwell Charles W DBA | No injuries | - |