Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Phoenix, Arizona 85020
Monday, February 6, 1989 9:00 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING A SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT, AFTER TAKEOFF, THE WINDS INCREASED. THE PILOT PREPARED FOR A HIGH WIND LANDING AND BRIEFED THE PASSENGERS. THE BASKET IMPACTED THE GROUND, TIPPED AND WAS DRAGGED FOR SEVERAL FEET BEFORE COMING TO REST. ONE PASSENGER SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES AS A RESULT OF THE HARD LANDING. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE WINDS WERE STRONG PRIOR TO TAKEOFF.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT DISPLAYED POOR PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND PREPARATION BY NOT PROPERLY EVALUATING THE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/6/1989
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 900
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City PHOENIX
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85020
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 2
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Partial - limited by briefer
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 845 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 60
Weather Observation Facility ID DVT
Elevation of weather observation facility 1475
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 20000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 45
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 1
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 340
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 18
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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 5
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 6
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 215
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 6 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 904
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 38533
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:28PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2912R
NTSB Number LAX89LA104
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 A-140
Aircraft Series Identifier A-140
Aircraft Serial Number 5023
Certified Max Gross Weight 2800
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 25 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 12
Airframe Hours 448
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name COUSINS OF THE CLOUDS BALL INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address P. O. BOX 39207
Aircraft Owner City PHOENIX
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85069
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ESCAPE ADVENTURES
Operator Same as Owner? No
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City PHOENIX
Departure State AZ
Departure Country
Departure Time 800
Departure Time Zone MST
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 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --