# Incident 19970323011299I: Head AX888HEAD, Columbia, MO, March 23, 1997

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 23, 1997, 08:15 local time
- Place: Columbia, MO
- Phase of flight: Final Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.9517° N, 92.3341° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Columbia, MO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9517&lon=-92.3341&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4502A (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: HEAD AX888HEAD
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 36 total, 36 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970323011299I

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

NARRATIVE: ON MARCH 23, 1997, MS. MARY JANE WATERS OPERATED HEAD LIGHTER THAN AIR, FREE BALLOON, N4502A, AS PILOT IN COMMAND IN THE VICINITY OF COLUMBIA, MISSOURI. SHE DEPARTED THE BALLOON LAUNCH SITE AT THE BOONE COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS AT 0720 CST, ON A SOLO FLIGHT FOR THE PURPOSE OF CURRENCY. AT APPROXIMATELY 0815 CST, WHILE ON A LANDING APPROACH, MS. WATERS CONTACTED A POWERLINE, OWNED BY BOONE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, WHICH BROKE OFF ONE POLE AT GROUND LEVEL AND RESULTED IN A LINE BREAK. THE POWER LINE BREAKAGE CUT SERVICE TO 515 CUSTOMERS FOR 35 MINUTES AND 59 CUSTOMERS FOR 2 HOURS, 49 MINUTES. MS. WATERS STATED THAT THE WINDS HAD INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY AFTER THE LAUNCH AND WERE AN ESTIMATED 12 KNOTS WHEN SHE MADE HER LANDING APPROACH. THE CHASE CREW CHIEF SAID HE THOUGHT THE WINDS WERE ABOUT 10 KNOTS. HOWEVER, THE WINDS IN THE COLUMBIA AREA AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT WERE REPORTED TO BE SIX KNOTS. MS. WATERS SAID SHE WAS CONCENTRATING ON SETTING UP A HIGH WIND LANDING AND REACTED TOO SLOWLY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CLEAR THE POWERLINES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES ANAD NO DAMAGE TO THE BALLOON. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ THIS INCIDENT REPORT IS CLOSED.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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