Cameron Balloons Z-150 accident near Sandown, New Hampshire, September 12, 2008
On September 12, 2008 at about 11:30 am local time, a Cameron Balloons Z-150, registered N151TS, suffered minor damage in an accident during landing near Sandown, New Hampshire. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured; 5 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s encounter with high winds during approach. Contributing to the severity of injuries was the passengers' improper landing preparation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 12, 2008 · about 11:30 am local time
- Place
- Sandown, New Hampshire · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured; 5 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cameron Balloons Z-150
- Registration
- N151TS · registry record · serial 6485
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the balloon pilot, he had checked several weather sources and sent up several helium balloons to check local winds. The flight path and speed of the test balloons confirmed the weather forecasts obtained earlier, and he saw no significant winds either on the ground or aloft. Early in the flight, the pilot noticed that the winds aloft had increased significantly. He descended to assess how close to the ground the increased winds were, so that he could start to plan for a landing. As the balloon came close to treetop level, he experienced increased wind speeds, and decided to land as soon as possible. The pilot prepared the passengers for a fast, hard, drag landing. As he approached the landing site, he allowed the balloon basket to drag through the top of trees in an effort to reduce speed. The pilot estimated that they decreased their horizontal balloon speed by 50 percent. Once clear of the trees, and over the landing site, he vented the balloon to facilitate a fast descent into the field. He informed the passengers that they would have a very hard landing and warned them to get ready for impact. Two passengers had squatted in the balloon to avoid contact with the treetops, and never returned to the correct landing position, as previously instructed by the pilot. Those passengers sustained serious injuries during the hard landing. The reported wind at a nearby airport, about 30 minutes prior to the accident, was from 190 degrees at 5 knots. Examination of the balloon revealed minor damage to the basket and no preimpact structural or mechanical failures.
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
- Other weather encounter during approach
- Hard landing during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › High wind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 902 hours in all; 149 in this make and model; 64 in the last 90 days; 902 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 12, 2007
- Medical certificate: None
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 148 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 11, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: None Salem NH at 10:30 am
- Destination: None Sandown NH
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 am from MHT, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 4 |
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.