Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents
Learn from Colorado's accident history to fly safer in the Rockies
2310 Total Accidents
425 Fatal
816 Fatalities
1982-2026
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Serious Injury
La Junta, Colorado
NTSB Narrative
While landing a hot air balloon, the pilot encountered surface winds estimated at 22 mph and gusting to 28 mph. At 20 to 25 feet above ground level, the pilot shut off the burner and prepared for the landing. The hot air balloon descended 400 to 450 feet per minute, impacted hard on downward sloping terrain, and was dragged approximately 360 feet by the wind before coming to rest. The pilot suffered two broken ankles. There were no reported pre-impact anomalies. The pilot's failure to maintain a safe rate of descent during landing. Contributing to the accident was the strong surface winds.
Case Study & Lessons Learned
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NTSB Findings
- Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-High wind-Effect on operation - F
- Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Descent/approach/glide path-Not attained/maintained - C
- Environmental issues-Physical environment-Terrain-Sloped/uneven-Effect on operation
- Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
Details
| NTSB Report | CEN09CA159 |
| Aircraft | CAMERON BALLOONS US V-90 |
| Registration | N2097H |
| Damage | MINR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Location | 37.9433, -103.5136 |
