Lindstrand 77A N370LB

Summary

On 2 September 2018 at about 13:35 local time, a Lindstrand 77A registered N370LB was involved in an accident near Brookfield, Missouri, United States. 2 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

2 September 2018 at 13:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Brookfield, Missouri, United States

Coordinates

39.9081, -93.1439

Aircraft

Lindstrand 77A

Registration

N370LB

Category

Balloon

Year built

1996

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Air Race/Show

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Brookfield → Brookfield

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN18LA364

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's inability to maintain control of the balloon after encountering high wind conditions and windshear during the landing, which resulted in his ejection from the basket and serious injury to the passenger during the balloon’s subsequent impact with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot indicated that, before departing on the balloon flight with a passenger to participate in a balloon derby, he obtained a weather briefing; reported and forecast winds in the area were less than 10 knots, and the reported and forecast winds "a couple of 100 feet above ground level" were 10-20 knots with no increase in surface winds. As he was completing the flight, the pilot began navigating to find a landing site and then noticed an increase in windshear. He approached a landing site but when he noted an obstruction and realized the area was private property, he aborted the landing. The wind increased again during the approach to a second field that had uneven terrain and obstructions. The pilot indicated that he rebriefed hard landing procedures to the passenger in preparation for landing. When the balloon touched down hard in high winds, the pilot was ejected from the basket. The immediate reduction of weight in the basket resulted in the balloon climbing with the passenger on board. The pilot yelled to the passenger to grab the rip line, which caused the balloon to enter a rapid descent from about tree-top level. The balloon impacted the ground hard, which resulted in serious injuries to the passenger. The pilot stated there was no mechanical malfunction or failure of the balloon.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.