Head AX8 88B N20671

Summary

On 25 October 2014 at about 13:15 local time, a Head AX8 88B registered N20671, operated by Davis William A JR, was involved in an accident near Montevallo, Alabama, United States. 3 people were on board and one was seriously injured. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 October 2014 at 13:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Montevallo, Alabama, United States

Coordinates

33.0850, -86.8392

Aircraft

Head AX8 88B

Registration

N20671

Category

Balloon

Year built

2009

Operator

Davis William A JR

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Alabaster → Montevallo

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA15CA035

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's decision to conduct a landing to a confined area in high wind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent injury to a passenger.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

At the conclusion of a sightseeing flight, the pilot was descending the balloon for landing in a field he had partially observed through trees. He reported that the wind speed was between 10-15 knots.  As he vented the envelope and the field came into full view, he noted that there was "not much room to land;" estimating the field to be about 60-70 yards in length. The basket touched down hard and was dragged along the ground before coming to rest. The pilot and one passenger were not injured; the second passenger fell during the landing and sustained fractures to both arms. The balloon was not damaged. The pilot stated that the preflight passenger briefing included the proper brace position for landing. The pilot also reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies of the balloon that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.