What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-5)On July 4, 1999, Mr. Gary d. sines operated Galaxy balloons, Galaxy 8, N5347S, as pilot in command at the annual 4th of July balloon ascension on the grounds of the stated capitol at Jefferson City, Missouri. At approximatley 1958 CDT, during the initial phase of takeoff, the balloon envelope contacted the ormanental eagle fixture on the top of the main flagpole at a point just below the balloon's equator. As the balloon ascended, the fabric of several panels were ripped downward to the skirt of the balloon. The top of the flagpole hooked the lower portion of the balloon's envelope, causing the balloon basket and its occupant to be suspended near the top of the flagpole for nearly five minutes. Mr. Sines tied the basket to the flagpole with a rope, and as the envelope cooled, it slid down the flagpole. Mr. Sines and his passengers were rescued by personnel from the capitol police and fire departments. There were no injuries.
As the FAA filed it
(-5)ON JULY 4, 1999, MR. GARY D. SINES OPERATED GALAXY BALLOONS, GALAXY 8, N5347S, AS PILOT IN COMMAND AT THE ANNUAL 4TH OF JULY BALLOON ASCENSION ON THE GROUNDS OF THE STATED CAPITOL AT JEFFERSON CITY, MISSOURI. AT APPROXIMATLEY 1958 CDT, DURING THE INITIAL PHASE OF TAKEOFF, THE BALLOON ENVELOPE CONTACTED THE ORMANENTAL EAGLE FIXTURE ON THE TOP OF THE MAIN FLAGPOLE AT A POINT JUST BELOW THE BALLOON'S EQUATOR. AS THE BALLOON ASCENDED, THE FABRIC OF SEVERAL PANELS WERE RIPPED DOWNWARD TO THE SKIRT OF THE BALLOON. THE TOP OF THE FLAGPOLE HOOKED THE LOWER PORTION OF THE BALLOON'S ENVELOPE, CAUSING THE BALLOON BASKET AND ITS OCCUPANT TO BE SUSPENDED NEAR THE TOP OF THE FLAGPOLE FOR NEARLY FIVE MINUTES. MR. SINES TIED THE BASKET TO THE FLAGPOLE WITH A ROPE, AND AS THE ENVELOPE COOLED, IT SLID DOWN THE FLAGPOLE. MR. SINES AND HIS PASSENGERS WERE RESCUED BY PERSONNEL FROM THE CAPITOL POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS.THERE WERE NO INJURIES.
Other reports on N5347S · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.