Arbc Inc 150A accident near Mecca, CA
On April 13, 2007, an Arbc Inc 150A (balloon) was involved in an accident near Mecca, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- April 13, 2007
- Place
- Mecca, CA
- Aircraft
- Arbc Inc 150A · Balloon
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 33.533°N, 116.182°W
- NTSB ID
- 20070418X00433
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On April 13, 2007, at 0800 Pacific daylight time, an ARBC Inc Lindstrand 150A balloon, N156LB, collided with power lines while landing in a field approximately 7 miles southwest of Mecca, California. Balloon Above the Desert, Inc., operated the balloon under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. One passenger was fatally injured and one passenger was seriously injured; the commercial pilot and three other passengers were not injured. The balloon envelope was not damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated in Indio, California, about 0730. The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that they took off about 0730, from the intersection of 54th and Monroe in Indio, and winds were 4 to 6 mph at the time. The pilot stated to an Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that he had given the passengers a safety brief before the flight, at which time the passengers sign the "Assumption of Risk" form. They were airborne for about 20 minutes when he noticed that the surface winds were picking up, and he decided to land the balloon. He brought the balloon down to about 50 feet to see what the winds were close to the ground. He determined that landing was not possible, and took the balloon up to 200 feet. He identified another landing zone and brought the balloon down to 100 feet. The pilot reported that the winds at this time were from 340 degrees at 10 knots with gusts between 15 and 20 knots. Approximately 800 feet from the landing zone, he prepared the passengers f
Probable cause
The pilot's decision to fly in forecasted unfavorable wind conditions that exceeded the balloon's capabilities.
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Browse: California
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
