Lindstrand 180A N3013T

Summary

On 16 December 2019 at about 13:15 local time, a Lindstrand 180A registered N3013T, operated by Orlando Balloon Rides, was involved in an accident near Davenport, Florida, United States. 6 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

16 December 2019 at 13:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Davenport, Florida, United States

Coordinates

28.2550, -81.7919

Aircraft

Lindstrand 180A

Registration

N3013T

Category

Balloon

Year built

2011

Operator

Orlando Balloon Rides

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Davenport → Davenport

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA20CA138

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain the proper descent rate during the approach to landing, which resulted in a hard landing and serious injury to a passenger.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, while flying the balloon level and preparing for landing, he brushed the basket on a treetop to slow the balloon's forward speed. After slowing, he conducted a standup landing with no basket tip-over. After securing the balloon, one of the passengers reported that her foot was injured. The injured passenger reported that, before landing, the pilot announced that they were coming in too fast for landing and that he was going to hit the treetops to slow the balloon down. He instructed the passengers to assume the landing position. She then felt a "hard whiplash-like impact" and heard tree branches snapping. Upon landing, she experienced pain in both ankles and was unable to immediately egress the basket. She later egressed with assistance. She declined immediate medical attention. She sought medical attention later that day and was initially diagnosed with a "bad sprain" of her left ankle. However, during a follow-up visit, a doctor found fractures in both of her ankles. Another passenger reported that, while not familiar with balloon landings, the landing "seemed hard and was a shock." He further stated that they had not been previously briefed that such a shock may occur during landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.