Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
Sedona Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Sedona, Arizona 86336
Tuesady, April 10, 2012 7:30 MST
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
Two balloons were on approach to land and collided into each other. Balloon A, N2037U, was at a lower altitude and in front of balloon B, N20513. As the pilots were descending to land, balloon A began to slow about 10 feet above ground level and the pilot of balloon B realized that the balloons' envelopes might touch, which he noted was not uncommon during takeoffs and landings. As balloon A came closer into his view, he thought the contact may push it into the ground, so he decided to ascend. During the climb, the basket of balloon B collided with the envelope of balloon A, tearing two of its panels just above the equator, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot of balloon B landed his balloon without further incident. The pilot of balloon A observed the envelope tearing and opened both burners. His balloon contacted the ground and bounced, momentarily becoming airborne again before touching down. Both pilots stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the balloons that would have precluded normal operation.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
The pilot of another balloon did not maintain adequate clearance during approach for landing between his basket and the envelope of this balloon that was also on approach, which resulted in a midair collision.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 4/10/2012 |
| Event Day of the Week | Tuesday |
| Time of Event | 730 |
| Event Time Zone | Mountain Standard Time |
| Event City | Sedona |
| Event State | ARIZONA |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 86336 |
| Event Date Year | 2012 |
| Event Date Month | 4 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | Yes |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | -- |
| Event Location Latitude | 345054n |
| Event Location Longitude | 1114718w |
| Event Location Airport | Sedona Airport |
| Event Location Nearest Airport ID | SEZ |
| Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport | Off Airport/Airstrip |
| Distance from airport in statute miles | -- |
| Degrees magnetic from airport | -- |
| Airport Elevation | -- |
| Weather Briefing Completeness | -- |
| Investigator's weather source | Pilot |
| 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) | 10 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | -- |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | -- |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Variable |
| Wind Speed (knots) | -- |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | Light and Variable |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Not Gusting |
| Wind Gust (knots) | -- |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | -- |
| Density Altitude (feet) | -- |
| Intensity of Precipitation | -- |
| METAR weather report | -- |
| Event Highest Injury | None |
| On Ground, Fatal Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Minor Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Serious Injuries | -- |
| Injury Total Fatal | -- |
| Injury Total Minor | -- |
| Injury Total None | 14 |
| Injury Total Serious | -- |
| Injury Total All | -- |
| Investigating Agency | NTSB |
| NTSB Docket Number (internal use) | 29871 |
| NTSB Notification Source | FAA Scottsdale, AZ FSDO |
| NTSB Notification Date | -- |
| NTSB Notification Time | -- |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Jun 21 2012 3:20PM |
| User who most recently changed record | johb |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | -- |
Aircraft Involved |
||
|---|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
Aircraft #2 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N2037U | N20513 |
| NTSB Number | WPR12CA163A | WPR12CA163B |
| Missing Aircraft Indicator | -- | -- |
| Federal Aviation Reg. Part | Part 91: General Aviation | Part 91: General Aviation |
| Type of Flight Plan filed | None | None |
| Flight plan Was Activated? | No | No |
| Damage | Substantial | None |
| Aircraft Fire | None | None |
| Aircraft Explosion | None | None |
| Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name | AVIAN BALLOON | AVIAN BALLOON |
| Aircraft Model | MAGNUM IX | MAGNUM IX |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | -- | -- |
| Aircraft Serial Number | 202 | 204 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | 2400 | 2400 |
| Aircraft Category | Balloon | Balloon |
| Aircraft Registration Class | -- | -- |
| Aircraft is a homebuilt? | No | No |
| Flight Crew Seats | -- | -- |
| Cabin Crew Seats | -- | -- |
| Passenger Seats | -- | -- |
| Total number of seats on the aircraft | 7 | 7 |
| Number of Engines | 0 | 0 |
| Fixed gear or retractable gear | Fixed | Fixed |
| Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection | 100 Hour | 100 Hour |
| Date of Last Inspection | Feb 28 2012 12:00AM | Jan 6 2012 12:00AM |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | -- | -- |
| Airframe Hours | 232 | 542 |
| ELT Installed | No | No |
| ELT Activated | No | No |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | No | No |
| ELT Type | -- | -- |
| Aircraft Owner Name | NORTHERN LIGHT BALLOON EXPEDITIONS | NORTHERN LIGHT BALLOON EXPEDITIONS |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | 455 DRY CREEK RD | 455 DRY CREEK RD |
| Aircraft Owner City | SEDONA | SEDONA |
| Aircraft Owner State | AZ | AZ |
| Aircraft Owner Country | USA | USA |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 86336-4329 | 86336-4329 |
| Operator is an individual? | No | No |
| Operator Name | NORTHERN LIGHT BALLOON EXPEDITIONS | NORTHERN LIGHT BALLOON EXPEDITIONS |
| Operator Same as Owner? | Yes | Yes |
| Operator Is Doing Business As | -- | -- |
| Operator Address Same as Owner? | Yes | Yes |
| Operator Street Address | 455 DRY CREEK RD | 455 DRY CREEK RD |
| Operator City | SEDONA | SEDONA |
| Operator State | AZ | AZ |
| Operator Country | USA | USA |
| Operator Zip code | 86336-4329 | 86336-4329 |
| Operator Code | -- | -- |
| Owner has at least one certificate | None | None |
| Other Operator of large aircraft? | No | No |
| 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) | Business | Business |
| Second Pilot on Board | No | No |
| Departure Point Same as Event | Yes | Yes |
| Departure Airport Code | SEZ | SEZ |
| Departure City | Sedona | Sedona |
| Departure State | AZ | AZ |
| Departure Country | USA | USA |
| Departure Time | 630 | 630 |
| Departure Time Zone | MST | MST |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | crash at destination city | crash at destination city |
| Destination Airport Code | -- | -- |
| Destination City | Sedona | Sedona |
| Destination State | AZ | AZ |
| Destination Country | USA | USA |
| Specific Phase of Flight | -- | -- |
| Report sent to ICAO? | -- | -- |
| Evacuation occurred | -- | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | May 15 2012 11:44AM | May 15 2012 11:43AM |
| User who most recently changed record | coos | coos |
| Since inspection or accident | Time of Accident | Time of Accident |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | N/A | N/A |
| Runway Length | -- | -- |
| Runway Width | -- | -- |
| Sight Seeing flight | Yes | Yes |
| Air Medical Flight | No | No |
| Medical Flight | -- | -- |