Arbc INC DBA Lindstrand 60X accident near Louisville, Kentucky, April 26, 2009
On April 26, 2009 at about 12:00 pm local time, a Arbc INC DBA Lindstrand 60X (balloon), registered N877LX, was involved in an accident during landing near Louisville, Kentucky (Louisville International Airpo airport). 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 passenger's inadequate bracing during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 26, 2009 · about 12:00 pm local time
- Place
- Louisville, Kentucky · Louisville International Airpo · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Arbc INC DBA Lindstrand 60X · all 60Xs on the register
- Registration
- N877LX · no longer on the register · serial 5279
- 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 pilot of the balloon located a landing area after completing a racing event. The pilot stated that he briefed the passenger prior to the landing to hold on to the basket handles. The pilot positioned himself in the front of the basket, with the passenger behind him. The landing was a normal, "stand-up landing." The passenger lost her grip from the handles and she consequently pitched forward as they bumped the ground and came to a stop. The passenger complained that her ankle hurt as she exited the basket. At first it was believed the passenger suffered a sprained ankle. A medical evaluation, 2 days later, discovered a fracture above the ankle.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › (general) › Passenger
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 1,153 hours in all; 52 in this make and model
- Last flight review: September 23, 2008
- Medical certificate: None
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 32 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: Louisville KY at 11:20 am
- Destination: Louisville KY
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observation at 11:56 am from SDF, 13 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
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA09CA276.