Head AX8 88B accident near Montevallo, Alabama, October 25, 2014
On October 25, 2014 at about 1:15 pm local time, a 2009 Head AX8 88B (balloon), registered N20671, was involved in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Montevallo, Alabama. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's decision to conduct a landing to a confined area in high wind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent injury to a passenger.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 25, 2014 · about 1:15 pm local time
- Place
- Montevallo, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Head AX8 88B, built 2009
- Registration
- N20671 · registry record · serial 386
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
At the conclusion of a sightseeing flight, the pilot was descending the balloon for landing in a field he had partially observed through trees. He reported that the wind speed was between 10-15 knots. As he vented the envelope and the field came into full view, he noted that there was "not much room to land;" estimating the field to be about 60-70 yards in length. The basket touched down hard and was dragged along the ground before coming to rest. The pilot and one passenger were not injured; the second passenger fell during the landing and sustained fractures to both arms. The balloon was not damaged. The pilot stated that the preflight passenger briefing included the proper brace position for landing. The pilot also reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies of 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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › (general) › Decision related to condition
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › (general) › Effect on equipment
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent rate › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 152 hours in all; 112 in this make and model; 152 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 14, 2014
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: none
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 129.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 9, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: N/A Alabaster AL at 12:00 pm
- Destination: N/A Montevallo AL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.50 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.