Kubicek BB60 accident near Goodsprings, NV
On September 12, 2019, a Kubicek BB60 (balloon) was involved in an accident near Goodsprings, NV. 3 people were seriously injured. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- September 12, 2019
- Place
- Goodsprings, NV
- Aircraft
- Kubicek BB60 · Balloon
- Injuries
- 0 fatal, 3 serious, 6 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 35.908°N, 115.435°W
- NTSB ID
- 20190912X81942
Official records · WPR19LA257
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
On September 12, 2019, about 0930 Pacific daylight time, a Kubicek BB60Z balloon, N505CZ, was involved in an accident near Goodsprings, Nevada. The pilot and two passengers sustained serious injuries. the remaining six passengers sustained minor injuries, and the balloon sustained substantial damage. The balloon was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated that, after about 1 hour into the flight, he planned to touch down near a water basin. When the balloon was about 0.5 mile away from the intended landing location, the wind changed, and the balloon’s direction shifted south toward terrain that the pilot described as unfriendly for a balloon landing. The pilot ascended the balloon to find a different wind direction. The balloon continued over a ridge, and the pilot then aligned the balloon with a dirt road and began the descent. As the balloon neared the surface, the wind increased, and the pilot briefed the passengers about 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 reported that he was ejected from the basket. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector responding to this accident stated five occupants in addition to the pilot were ejected from the basket after the hard landing. 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 located about 17 miles southwest of Las Vegas. The pi
Probable cause
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.
More accidents in NV
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Browse: Nevada
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
