Arbc Inc 150A accident near Mecca, California, April 13, 2007
On April 13, 2007 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Arbc Inc 150A (balloon), registered N156LB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mecca, California. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured; 4 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's decision to fly in forecasted unfavorable wind conditions that exceeded the balloon's capabilities.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 13, 2007 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Mecca, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured; 4 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Arbc Inc 150A
- Registration
- N156LB · registry record · serial 5168
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The balloon pilot was conducting a for-hire sightseeing balloon ride to five tourists. The pilot had received a weather briefing that stated winds at the closest airport, 7 miles away, were 310 degrees at 11 knots. The next closest airport, about 20 miles away was reporting winds 310 degrees at 12 knots gusting to 18 knots. The forecast for the area had occasional gusty surface winds up to 25 knots. Winds aloft, up to 9,000 feet, were from the north between 15 and 29 knots. The balloon flight manual states that the maximum surface wind speed for takeoff and landing is 15 knots. The pilot determined that the winds at the first takeoff location were not favorable, and took the balloon party to a second location. At the second takeoff location the pilot noted the winds by looking at treetop and had the balloon inflated. He had the passengers load into the basket. Once airborne he stated that the flight will be shorter than usual because of the winds. In fact the balloon had covered the distance that usually takes 1 hour in about 20 minutes. The pilot gave a prelanding briefing to the passengers, and prepared them for a faster than normal landing. The winds in the landing area were 10 knots with gusts between 15 and 20 knots, which were above the balloon's recommended landing wind limit. As the pilot directed the balloon into the selected landing zone, the balloon began to descend more rapidly than the pilot could compensate for and headed directly for a row of electrical power lines. During the landing approach the basket overhead structure struck and broke through a section of electrical power lines. The balloon basket continued its descent, impacted the ground hard, bounced up, impacted the ground a second time, and ejected two passengers in the direction the balloon was traveling. The basket landed on one of the ejected passengers and then was drug along the ground a few feet further before coming to a complete stop.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 912 hours in all; 45 in this make and model
- Last flight review: July 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 646 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 1, 2007; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,190 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine:; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Indio CA at 2:30 pm
- Destination: Mecca CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 13 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 2:52 pm from KTRM, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 | 3 |
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.