Kubicek BB60 N505CZ

Summary

On 12 September 2019 at about 16:30 local time, a Kubicek BB60 registered N505CZ, operated by Vegas Hot Air Sin City Balloon Rides, was involved in an accident near Goodsprings, Nevada, United States. 9 people were on board and 3 were seriously injured, 6 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 September 2019 at 16:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Goodsprings, Nevada, United States

Coordinates

35.9081, -115.4350

Aircraft

Kubicek BB60

Registration

N505CZ

Category

Balloon

Year built

2018

Operator

Vegas Hot Air Sin City Balloon Rides

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Aerial Observation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Las Vegas → Las Vegas

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dawn

NTSB number

WPR19LA257

3 people were 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 injuries to the pilot and two passengers.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that, after about 1 hour into the flight, the wind changed, and the balloon’s direction shifted south toward terrain that was not suitable for a balloon landing. The pilot then aligned the balloon with a more suitable landing location and began the descent. As the balloon neared the surface, the wind increased, and the pilot briefed the passengers of a potential high-wind landing. He pulled the vent line, but the balloon did not deflate as he expected. The balloon landed hard, and the pilot and several passengers were ejected from the basket. Afterward, the balloon flew at a low level for about 0.5 mile, and the remaining three passengers were ejected from the basket. The balloon came to rest on a hillside in remote desert terrain. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the balloon.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.