Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

San Juan Bautis, California 95045
Sunday, January 24, 1993 9:15 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

IN HIS WRITTEN STATEMENT, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE AND HIS TWO PASSENGERS LIFTED OFF AT 0800 HOURS FOR A SIGHT SEEING FLIGHT. HE SAID THE WINDS WERE CALM AT THE TIME OF LIFT OFF BUT ABOUT AN HOUR LATER WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND, THE WINDS INCREASED IN VELOCITY. HE SAID THAT DUE TO FLOODED AREAS, OBSTRUCTIONS, AND 'BRISK' GROUND WINDS, HE ABORTED SEVERAL LANDING ATTEMPTS. THE PILOT FOUND A CLEAR, OPEN AND DRY LANDING AREA. ON THE FIRST LANDING ATTEMPT, THE BASKET TIPPED AND ONE PASSENGER FELL PARTIALLY OUT OF THE BASKET. HE AND THE OTHER PASSENGER PULLED THE PASSENGER BACK IN THE BASKET. THE PILOT SAID THE BALLOON THEN LIFTED OVER A FENCE, COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND, AND TIPPED AGAIN. THE TWO PASSENGERS FELL OUT OF THE BASKET AND WERE DRAGGED BY THE BALLOON UNTIL IT STOPPED. THE PILOT SAID THE WINDS WERE 10 MILES PER HOUR GUSTING TO 15 MILES PER HOUR WHEN HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE INFLIGHT PLANNING AND THE UNFAVORABLE WINDS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/24/1993
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 915
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City SAN JUAN BAUTIS
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95045
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 15
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 44
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 27 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1310
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 48202
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:07PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7000J
NTSB Number LAX93LA106
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage None
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Eagle Aircraft Co.
Aircraft Model C-7
Aircraft Series Identifier C-7
Aircraft Serial Number E81710
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Balloon
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines 0
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 12 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 62
Airframe Hours 598
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MYRON FARNHAM
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1033 CRANBERRY DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City CUPERTINO
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95014
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MYRON FARNHAM
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 1033 CRANBERRY DRIVE
Operator City CUPERTINO
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 95014
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code NONE
Departure City MORGAN HILL
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 800
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --