Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mottville, Michigan 49099
Sunday, August 26, 1990 21:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE BALLOON FLIGHT WAS LAUNCHED IN HIGH WINDS. DURING THE FLIGHT THE BALLOON ENCOUNTERED LOW ALTITUDE WIND SHEAR. WHILE APPROACHING TO LAND THE WIND SHEAR AND HIGH WIND SPEED STILL PREVAILED AND CAUSED THE BALLOON TO DESCEND RAPIDLY. THE BALLOON PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO SLOW THE DESCENT SUFFICIENTLY DUE TO LOW PROPANE FUEL PRESSURE FOR THE BALLOONS BURNER. THE BALLOON BASKET COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND DURING A HARD LANDING TOUCHDOWN. ONE PASSENGER WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED AS A RESULT OF THE HARD LANDING.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER DECENT RATE DURING LANDING AND HIS DECISION TO INITIATE THE FLIGHT IN HIGH WINDS CONDITIONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/26/1990
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 2100
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City MOTTVILLE
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 49099
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 8
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 Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 3
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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 4
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 987
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 7 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1400
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42209
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6092K
NTSB Number CHI90LA225
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Minor
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CAMERON
Aircraft Model N120
Aircraft Series Identifier N120
Aircraft Serial Number 5513
Certified Max Gross Weight 2000
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 --
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ELKHART BALLOON PORT
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4614 WYLAND DR.
Aircraft Owner City ELKHART
Aircraft Owner State IN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 46516
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JAY A. KRULL
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 4614 WYLAND DR.
Operator City ELKHART
Operator State IN
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 46516
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) Aerial Observation
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City ELKHART
Departure State IN
Departure Country
Departure Time 2000
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 Landing
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 --