Thunder and Colt TC-180 N738TC
15 November 1994 · Peoria, Arizona, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 15 November 1994 at about 15:05 local time, a Thunder and Colt TC-180 registered N738TC was involved in an accident near Peoria, Arizona, United States. 8 people were on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 15:05
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Peoria, Arizona, United States
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Thunder and Colt TC-180
- Registration
- N738TC
- Category
- Balloon
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Phoenix → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX95LA036
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
Probable cause
the flight's encounter with unforecasted high winds which resulted in a hard landing.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT OBTAINED A WX BRIEFING BEFORE DEPARTING ON THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT. THE FORECASTED SURFACE WINDS WERE LESS THAN 10 KNOTS. THE SIGHTSEEING BALLOON FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED HIGH SURFACE WINDS WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT. THE PILOT ELECTED TO EXECUTE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN AN OPEN AREA AND BRIEFED HIS PASSENGERS ON A HIGH WIND LANDING. ON THE INITIAL TOUCHDOWN, THE BALLOON BOUNCED. ON THE SECOND TOUCHDOWN, ABOUT 20 YARDS FROM THE INITIAL TOUCHDOWN POINT, THE WINDS DRAGGED THE BALLOON ABOUT 100 YARDS BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. ONE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A FRACTURED HIP. THE PILOT AND THE REMAINING SIX PASSENGERS WERE NOT INJURED. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, CALM WINDS PREVAILED AT PHOENIX SKY HARBOR AIRPORT WHICH IS 25 MILES SOUTHEAST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE WINDS WERE FROM THE NORTH AT 15 KNOTS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Sep 1994 | Cessna 210L | Payson, Arizona, United States | Dairy Queen of S. Arizona, Inc | No injuries | - |
| 21 Sep 1994 | James B Edwards COZY | Skull Valley, Arizona, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 21 Sep 1994 | Robinson R-22 | Benson, Arizona, United States | Same AS Registered Owner | No injuries | - |
| 1 Jul 1994 | Bell 206-B3 | Tucson, Arizona, United States | U.s. Forest Service | Unknown | - |
| 4 Jan 1994 | Bell 206B | Coolidge Dam, Arizona, United States | Southwest Helicopters, Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 15 Nov 1994 | Cessna 172K | Springerville, Arizona, United States | - | Fatal | 3 |