PEORIA, AZ, USA
N738TC
THUNDER and COLT TC-180
THE PILOT OBTAINED A WX BRIEFING BEFORE DEPARTING ON THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT. THE FORECASTED SURFACE WINDS WERE LESS THAN 10 KNOTS. THE SIGHTSEEING BALLOON FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED HIGH SURFACE WINDS WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT. THE PILOT ELECTED TO EXECUTE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN AN OPEN AREA AND BRIEFED HIS PASSENGERS ON A HIGH WIND LANDING. ON THE INITIAL TOUCHDOWN, THE BALLOON BOUNCED. ON THE SECOND TOUCHDOWN, ABOUT 20 YARDS FROM THE INITIAL TOUCHDOWN POINT, THE WINDS DRAGGED THE BALLOON ABOUT 100 YARDS BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. ONE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A FRACTURED HIP. THE PILOT AND THE REMAINING SIX PASSENGERS WERE NOT INJURED. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, CALM WINDS PREVAILED AT PHOENIX SKY HARBOR AIRPORT WHICH IS 25 MILES SOUTHEAST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE WINDS WERE FROM THE NORTH AT 15 KNOTS.
On November 15, 1994, at 0805 hours mountain standard time, a Thundercolt TC-180 hot air balloon, N738TC, sustained a hard landing on 51st Street, south of the Carefree Freeway, at Peoria, Arizona. The pilot was conducting a local visual flight rules sightseeing balloon flight. The balloon, operated by Joseph Fendler, d.b.a. "A Balloon Experience," sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot and six passengers were not injured; one passenger sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated 20 miles north of downtown Phoenix, Arizona, at 0705 hours. The pilot called the National Transportation Safety Board and reported this accident on November 16, 1994. He said that he obtained a preflight briefing from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Prescott [Arizona] Automated Flight Service Station. He said the briefer told him that the surface winds were forecasted to be between 6 and 7 knots until 0900 hours. After departing on the accident flight, the pilot observed that the upper and surface winds began to increase. The pilot elected to execute a precautionary landing. During the landing, the surface winds were from the north at 15 knots. On the touchdown, the balloon bounced and then landed about 20 yards from the initial touchdown point. The surface winds then dragged the basket about 100 yards before coming to a stop. The pilot said that the balloon operated normally and that he had prepared the passengers and the balloon for a high wind landing. The balloon did not experience any preimpact malfunctions or failures. The pilot also said that the balloon envelope sustained some minor tears. The basket sustained substantial frame and wicker damage. The accident site is about 25 miles north of Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (PHX), Phoenix, Arizona. PHX reported surface winds at 0756 hours were calm.
the flight's encounter with unforecasted high winds which resulted in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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