Lindstrand 180A accident near Davenport, Florida, December 16, 2019
On December 16, 2019 at about 1:15 pm local time, a 2011 Lindstrand 180A (balloon), registered N3013T, was involved in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Davenport, Florida. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 5 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain the proper descent rate during the approach to landing, which resulted in a hard landing and serious 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
- December 16, 2019 · about 1:15 pm local time
- Place
- Davenport, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 5 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Lindstrand 180A No Series, built 2011
- Registration
- N3013T · registry record · serial 5453
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, while flying the balloon level and preparing for landing, he brushed the basket on a treetop to slow the balloon's forward speed. After slowing, he conducted a standup landing with no basket tip-over. After securing the balloon, one of the passengers reported that her foot was injured. The injured passenger reported that, before landing, the pilot announced that they were coming in too fast for landing and that he was going to hit the treetops to slow the balloon down. He instructed the passengers to assume the landing position. She then felt a "hard whiplash-like impact" and heard tree branches snapping. Upon landing, she experienced pain in both ankles and was unable to immediately egress the basket. She later egressed with assistance. She declined immediate medical attention. She sought medical attention later that day and was initially diagnosed with a "bad sprain" of her left ankle. However, during a follow-up visit, a doctor found fractures in both of her ankles. Another passenger reported that, while not familiar with balloon landings, the landing "seemed hard and was a shock." He further stated that they had not been previously briefed that such a shock may occur during landing.
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 Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent rate › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: airship; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 20,637 hours in all; 20 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: March 3, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: unk
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 339 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 16, 2019
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: Davenport FL at 12:15 pm
- Destination: Davenport FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from GIF, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 4 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on June 10, 2020. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Tracey Paoletta (Passenger) Statement | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversation with Passenger Tracey Paoletta | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Record of E-mail Correspondence (Operator) | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Record of Phone Conversation (Passenger Yang He) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N3013T the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.