# Incident 19970807021339I: Head AX888HEAD, Bradenton, FL, August 7, 1997

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 7, 1997, 07:20 local time
- Place: Bradenton, FL
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 27.4898° N, 82.5768° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bradenton, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.4898&lon=-82.5768&mi=10
- Aircraft: N45290, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N45290-2005-04-05) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Head Balloons AX8-88 (registry code 4280200, https://openairdocs.org/model/head-balloons-ax8-88) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HEAD AX888HEAD
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 400 total
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970807021339I

## Narrative

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

THURSDAY, 7 AUGUST 1997, DR. JAMES H. WOOD, HOLDER OF CERTIFICATE NO 1615541, OPERATED A HOT AIR BALLOON ON A COMMERCIAL FLIGHT CARRYING THREE PASSENGERS. DURING THE FLIGHT, THE BALLOON WAS OVERTAKEN BY A RAIN-SHOWER. MOISTURE FROM THE SHOWER PUT OUT THE PILOT LIGHT OF THE BURNER. UNABLE TO REIGNITE THE PILOT LIGHT, THE BALLOON COOLED AND SETTLED TO A LANDING IN SHALLOW WATER NEAR THE SHORE LINE OF THE MANATEE RIVER. ONE PASSENGER RECEIVED MINOR INJURY FROM THE LANDING. WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE FORCAST VFR DURING THE PERIOD OF FLIGHT.

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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