Ultra Magic M-56C N105WB

Summary

On 16 September 2007 at about 13:00 local time, a Ultra Magic M-56C registered N105WB was involved in an accident near Bossier City, Louisiana, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was slightly damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 September 2007 at 13:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Bossier City, Louisiana, United States

Coordinates

32.5233, -93.7417

Aircraft

Ultra Magic M-56C

Registration

N105WB

Category

Balloon

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Air Race/Show

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bossier City → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Minor

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DFW07CA201

2 people were seriously injured.

The pilot's failure to arrest an excessive descent rate prior to ground contact, 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 hot air balloon landed hard during an organized balloon festival. The 472-hour commercial pilot reported that while attempting to land the hot air balloon within the "target area," he and the passenger were ejected from the basket during a hard landing. The balloon bounced and became airborne without any of the occupants. The pilot attempted to control the balloon by holding onto the balloon's tether rope. The unoccupied balloon ascended with the pilot holding onto the rope. The pilot was seriously injured when he was no longer able to hold onto the rope and fell to the ground. In the recommendation section of the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1), the pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented if he would have used a slower rate of descent. The winds at the time of the mishap were reported from 110 degrees at 4 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.