Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Schodack, New York 12156
Sunday, July 22, 1990 19:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING PRIOR TO DEPARTURE FROM FLIGHT SERVICE AND IN ADDITION, A PIBAL WAS LAUNCHED TO CHECK THE WINDS. AFTER THE HOT AIR BALLOON DEPARTED WITH A PILOT AND 4 PASSENGERS, THE WINDS INCREASED AND THE FLIGHT WAS CUT SHORT. THE PASSENGERS WERE BRIEFED ON THE LANDING INCLUDING THE IMPORTANCE OF HANGING ONTO THE BASKET UNTIL IT STOPS. A HARD LANDING WAS MADE AND THE BASKET DRAGGED OVER 100 FT PRIOR TO STOPPING. TWO ELDERLY PASSENGERS (70+) WERE UNABLE TO HANG ONTO THE BASKET AND ALTHOUGH THEY STAYED IN THE BASKET, ONE RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES (CRACKED RIBS) AND THE OTHER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE INFLIGHT ENCOUNTER WITH UNFORECAST HIGH WINDS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/22/1990
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1900
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City SCHODACK
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 12156
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
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 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
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 1
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1348
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 23 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1840
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42659
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 5:10PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1994V
NTSB Number NYC90LA057
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 CAMERON
Aircraft Model AX-8
Aircraft Series Identifier AX-8
Aircraft Serial Number 5308
Certified Max Gross Weight 2100
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 0
Number of Engines 0
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 15 1990 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 12
Airframe Hours 232
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AMERICAN BALLOON WORKS
Aircraft Owner Street Address RD #1 BOX 252 TAYER ROAD
Aircraft Owner City EAST NASSAU
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 12062
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City KINDERBOOK
Departure State NY
Departure Country
Departure Time 1830
Departure Time Zone EDT
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 Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
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 --