Head AX8 88 N45303
3 August 2020 · Jackson, Wyoming, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 3 August 2020 at about 14:10 local time, a Head AX8 88 registered N45303 was involved in an accident near Jackson, Wyoming, United States. 3 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was slightly damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 14:10
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Jackson, Wyoming, United States
- Coordinates
- 43.5875, -110.8279
- Aircraft
- Head AX8 88
- Registration
- N45303
- Category
- Balloon
- Year built
- 1988
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Business
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Jackson → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Minor
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- WPR20CA262
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Probable cause
The balloon pilot’s inability to maintain altitude during un-forecasted weather, 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 balloon pilot reported that after about 50 minutes of uneventful flying, the wind increased to about 11 miles per hour (mph) while traveling to the southwest. Immediately after, the wind abruptly shifted 180º and increased to about 20 miles per hour. The balloon descended and impacted terrain, slid about 30 yards, and came to rest on its side. The balloon sustained minor damaged, and a passenger sustained a serious broken ankle injury. The weather study revealed that the weather encountered was not forecasted.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Head AX8 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Dec 2019 | Head AX8 88B | Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 25 Oct 2014 | Head AX8 88B | Montevallo, Alabama, United States | Davis William A JR | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Oct 2020 | Bellanca 8KCAB | Rock Springs, Wyoming, United States | Robert Jean Otey | No injuries | - |
| 10 Aug 2020 | Aviat A-1C-200 | Grover, Wyoming, United States | Aviat Aircraft Inc | Serious injuries | - |
| 3 Aug 2020 | Cameron A 315 | Jackson, Wyoming, United States | Wyoming Balloon Co | Serious injuries | - |
| 25 Aug 2020 | Lake LA4 | Rawlins, Wyoming, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 25 May 2020 | Champion 7GCBC | Spotted Horse, Wyoming, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 16 Mar 2020 | Piper PA22 | Pinedale, Wyoming, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |