Arbc Inc Dba Lindstrand 260A N605KD

Summary

On 12 July 2023 at about 12:48 local time, a Arbc Inc Dba Lindstrand 260A registered N605KD, operated by Flying Circus Inc, was involved in an accident near Custer, South Dakota, United States. 11 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

12 July 2023 at 12:48

Classification

Accident

Location

Custer, South Dakota, United States

Coordinates

43.7667, -103.5988

Aircraft

Arbc Inc Dba Lindstrand 260A

Registration

N605KD

Category

Balloon

Year built

2022

Operator

Flying Circus Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Aerial Observation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Custer → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN23LA302

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot’s weather encounter that resulted in a high speed landing, the balloon tipping over, and serious injury to a passenger.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the sightseeing flight stated that after departure, the balloon’s speed increased, and its direction of travel became different from preflight wind observations. During the flight, the pilot established radio contact with the pilot of another company balloon, and they decided to land at a park. The other company balloon, which was ahead of the accident balloon, landed in the park without incident. When the accident pilot attempted a similar landing, the balloon encountered wind shear, and he continued the flight and flew about 1.5 miles. The pilot found a long field sheltered by trees and terrain, in which to attempt a landing. The pilot briefed the passengers to hold on tight and to crouch down in the balloon’s basket for the landing. At 100 ft above ground level (agl), the balloon encountered wind shear and slowed to about 5 kts. At 50 ft agl, the approach was “normal,” but the balloon’s speed increased “very rapidly.” The pilot stated that he was committed to the landing due to the amount of heat he had vented from the balloon, which would not allow for a climb. The balloon touched down “fairly smoothly,” but its speed increased. The pilot pulled the rapid deflation line, but the balloon lifted off, so he reseated the deflation system to reduce a descent rate that ensued from about 20 ft agl. The pilot then pulled the rapid deflation line again when the balloon was about to touch down. During touchdown, the balloon tipped over onto its side and came to a stop after traveling about 120 ft. The balloon did not sustain damage. A passenger received serious injuries. The pilot stated there was no mechanical malfunction/failure of the balloon.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.