Lindstrand Balloons USA 120A accident near Peru, Indiana, January 10, 2015
On January 10, 2015 at about 7:10 pm local time, a 2012 Lindstrand Balloons USA 120A, registered N316TB, was involved in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Peru, Indiana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The hard landing due to a higher-than-forecast surface wind, which resulted in a serious neck injury to the pilot.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 10, 2015 · about 7:10 pm local time
- Place
- Peru, Indiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Lindstrand Balloons USA 120A, built 2012
- Registration
- N316TB · registry record · serial 5502
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he made a normal landing approach but that the surface wind velocity was higher than forecast, which required him to use a high-wind landing technique. The pilot remained in control of the balloon during the hard landing and was able to properly brace himself before the landing. However, shortly after touchdown, the balloon tipped over onto its side, which was typical for a high-wind landing; the balloon was not damaged. The pilot fell out of the basket after his shoulder contacted the ground. The pilot was able to pull the vent line to fully deflate the envelope after touchdown. Following the hard landing, the pilot was admitted to a hospital and treated for a serious neck injury.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Other weather encounter during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › High wind › Effect on operation
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › High wind › Ability to respond/compensate
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › (general) › Capability exceeded
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › (general) › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 616 hours in all; 187 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days; 585 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 31, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 3, 2014; 187.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,640 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: Baxter IA at 1:40 pm
- Destination: Peru IN
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 14°F (-10°C), dew point 5°F (-15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.43 inHg
- Observation at 6:58 pm from GUS, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.