Lindstrand 77A accident near Brookfield, Missouri, September 2, 2018
On September 2, 2018 at about 1:35 pm local time, a 1996 Lindstrand 77A (balloon), registered N370LB, was involved in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Brookfield, Missouri. It was an air show or air race flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inability to maintain control of the balloon after encountering high wind conditions and windshear during the landing, which resulted in his ejection from the basket and serious injury to the passenger during the balloon’s subsequent impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 2, 2018 · about 1:35 pm local time
- Place
- Brookfield, Missouri · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Lindstrand 77A No Series, built 1996
- Registration
- N370LB · no longer on the register · serial 5005
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Air show or air race flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot indicated that, before departing on the balloon flight with a passenger to participate in a balloon derby, he obtained a weather briefing; reported and forecast winds in the area were less than 10 knots, and the reported and forecast winds "a couple of 100 feet above ground level" were 10-20 knots with no increase in surface winds. As he was completing the flight, the pilot began navigating to find a landing site and then noticed an increase in windshear. He approached a landing site but when he noted an obstruction and realized the area was private property, he aborted the landing. The wind increased again during the approach to a second field that had uneven terrain and obstructions. The pilot indicated that he rebriefed hard landing procedures to the passenger in preparation for landing. When the balloon touched down hard in high winds, the pilot was ejected from the basket. The immediate reduction of weight in the basket resulted in the balloon climbing with the passenger on board. The pilot yelled to the passenger to grab the rip line, which caused the balloon to enter a rapid descent from about tree-top level. The balloon impacted the ground hard, which resulted in serious injuries to the passenger. The pilot stated there was no mechanical malfunction or failure of the balloon.
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
- Windshear or thunderstorm during approach
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Miscellaneous/other during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of control in flight during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not specified
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › (general) › (general) › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Windshear › Effect on operation
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › High wind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 115 hours in all; 113 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 103 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 5, 2018
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: none
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 227 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 1,367 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: Brookfield MO
- Destination: Brookfield MO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 1:52 pm from CDJ, 26 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
1 document, released by the NTSB on July 18, 2019. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.