19990626022359A

On June 26, 1999, at 0615 hours mountain standard time, an Aerostar RX-7, N6426K, fell to the ground after colliding with power lines near Prescott Valley, Arizona. The hot air balloon, owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot was not injured; however, the passenger suffered serious injuries. The local area personal flight originated from Prescott Valley about 0545 and was conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that she was flying the lead balloon in a group of approximately 23 other balloons. She took off and climbed to approximately 1,000 feet AGL, flying a south to north route. She stated that the surface winds were from the south about 3 knots. The pilot reported that she selected a landing site and descended to a lower altitude to set up her approach. A ground crewmember checked the surface winds with a windmeter and reported that they were from the south at 2.8 knots. The pilot flew over a residential area and descended again after clearing the last house. She reported that she checked carefully for power lines and poles. She vented the balloon to descend, reached for the rip line, and suddenly saw a power line outlined against the sky. The pilot shouted, "power lines!" To her passenger just before impact. She reported that the power lines arced and cut the cables that connect the balloon to the basket. The basket separated and fell about 20 feet to the ground. The power lines remained intact. The pilot reported that she had not experienced any discrepancies with the balloon prior to impacting the power lines. (-23) pilot navigating on approach to land struck high tension electrical wires causing the balloon's envelope to become entangled in the wires. Electrical sparking occurred and the cables holding the basket to the envelope broke/separating causing the basket and it's occupants (pilot and passengers) to free-fall to the ground from approx. fifteen (15) feet. The pilot received electrical arcing burns and a lacerated elbow. The passenger received a broken ankle and a broken vertevrae. There was no post-crash fire. (.4)the pilot reported that she was flying the lead balloon in a group of 22 balloons. She took off and climbed to approximately 1,000 feet AGL, flying a south-to-north route. She stated that the surface winds were from the south about 3 knots. The pilot reported that she selected a landing site and descended to a lower altitude to set up her approach. A ground crewmember checked the surface winds with a windmeter and reported that they were from the south at 2.5 knots. The pilot flew over a residential area and descended again after clearing the last house. She reported that she checked carefully for power lines and poles. She vented the balloon to descend, reached for the rip line, and suddenly saw a power line outlined against the sky. She reported that the power lines arced and cut the cables that connect the balloon to the basket. The basket separated and fell about 20 feet to the ground. The power lines remained intact. The pilot reported that she had not experienced any problems with the balloon prior to impacting the power lines.