Arbc INC DBA Lindstrand 90A accident near Hebron, Indiana, June 2, 2024
On June 2, 2024 at about 11:54 pm local time, a 2024 Arbc INC DBA Lindstrand 90A (balloon), registered N8005H, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Hebron, Indiana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from powerlines while landing in a field.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 2, 2024 · about 11:54 pm local time
- Place
- Hebron, Indiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Arbc INC DBA Lindstrand 90A 5802, built 2024 · all 90As on the register
- Registration
- N8005H · registry record · serial 5802
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he launched his balloon from a local park and about 45 to 50 minutes after launch, he briefed his passengers for landing and began a descent. The pilot opted to forgo the initial landing area, due to obstacles, for a new landing area about 300 yards to the southwest. The new landing area required the pilot to cross a road with powerlines that ran parallel to it. The pilot began the descent and believed he had sufficient altitude to clear the powerlines. However, the descent path took the balloon into the vicinity of the powerlines, so the pilot applied full burner and attempted to ascend. The balloon continued to descend, and the pilot told his passengers to “get down.” The basket impacted the powerlines which resulted in electrical arcing. The pilot applied more heat and the balloon broke free from the powerlines. The balloon drifted about 2 miles southwest and came to rest in a field. The pilot sustained minor injuries and the two passengers sustained serious injuries. The balloon sustained substantial damage to the basket and the flying wires. The pilot believed that the balloon was caught in a downdraft caused by thermal activity near the ground. He also stated that there was no direct evidence of mechanical failure. A post accident inspection of the balloon after the accident did not find anything abnormal with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Low altitude operation/event during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: balloon; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 11,000 hours in all; 2.5 in this make and model; 160 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 5,000 as pilot in command; 500 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 7, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: none
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2.8 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, April 15, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 1,980 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Region Ballooning LLC
The flight
- Departed from: Winfield IN at 10:55 pm
- Destination: Lowell IN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
- Observation at 6:56 pm from KVPZ, 12 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KVPZ 022356Z AUTO VRB04KT 10SM CLR 21/13 A2999 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on August 30, 2024. 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 |
| 2 | Pilot Statement | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Statement - Email | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Photos | PDF, 3 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.