Aurora State Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Aurora, Oregon 97002
Thursday, June 17, 2004 7:15 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that after about one hour of flight he "...came down to the surface to set up for a landing." He stated the winds were greater than expected (estimated to be 10-12 MPH) and prepared for a high wind landing. The pilot stated that during the landing approach the basket "...impacted land and dragged approximately 30-40 yards before coming to a stop" on its side.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Pilot's failure to compensate for wind conditions. Wind was a contributing factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/17/2004
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 715
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Aurora
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97002
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 451600N
Event Location Longitude 1224900W
Event Location Airport AURORA STATE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 3S2
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 3
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Abbreviated
Investigator's weather source --
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 10
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 4
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency --
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 16413
NTSB Notification Source FAA-ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 29 2004 1:02PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3097R
NTSB Number SEA04CA109
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Minor
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Balloon Works
Aircraft Model Fire Fly 9
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number F9-063
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 Jul 7 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 39
Airframe Hours 287
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Derek Hancock
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Lake Oswego
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97034
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board --
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Tigard
Departure State OR
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 615
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Aurora
Destination State OR
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Aug 3 2004 5:53PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --