# Accident 20020705015209A: Head AX888HEAD, Victor, ID, July 5, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 5, 2002, 07:20 local time
- Place: Victor, ID
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.5975° N, 111.1256° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5975&lon=-111.1256&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4522E, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4522E) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Head Balloons AX8-88 (registry code 4280200, https://openairdocs.org/model/head-balloons-ax8-88) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HEAD AX888HEAD
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA02LA122](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02LA122) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020705015209A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON JULY 5, 2002, APPROXIMATELY 0720 MOUNTAIN DAYLIGHT TIME, A HEAD BALLOONS, INC. AX8-88, N4522E, REGISTERED TO AND BEING OPERATED BY A COMMERCIAL PILOT, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT IMPACTED POWER LINES WHILE LANDING APPROXIMATELY ONE MILE SOUTHWEST OF VICTOR, IDAHO. THE PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS WERE UNINJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS EXISTED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED. THE FLIGHT, WHICH WAS PERSONAL, WAS OPERATED UNDER 14 CFR 91, AND ORIGINATED FROM THE TETON SPRINGS RESORT, VICTOR, IDAHO, APPROXIMATELY 0700. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT ABOUT 20 MINUTES AFTER DEPARTURE HE ENCOUNTERED WESTERLY WINDS OF 10 MPH INCREASING AND SELECTED AN ALTERNATE LANDING SITE. DURING HIS APPROACH ONE OF THE PASSENGERS CALLED "POWER LINES" AND ABOUT 5-10 SECONDS LATER THE UPPER SUPPORTS OF THE BASKET CONTACTED THE POWER LINES. THE BASKET CAME TO REST ON A HIGHWAY AND ALL THREE OCCUPANTS EXITED. (-23) PILOT WAS CONDUCTING A HIGH WIND APPROACH TO LANDING, WAS DISTRACTED BY PASSENGERS IN BASKET, PASSENGER YELLED "WIRES" AND PILOT WAS UNABLE TO AVERT CONTACT. POWER LINES CONTACTED THE BALLOON UPRIGHTS CAUSING DAMAGE TO                                                            TWO SUSPENSION CABLES, BALLOON ENVELOPE FELL ONTO BARBED WIRE FENCE CAUSING FIVE 1/4 INCH HOLES ABOVE THE BALLOON EQUATOR. NO INJURIES.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB SEA02LA122](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02LA122), Jul 5, 2002: Head Balloons AX8-88 (N4522E), Victor, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain altitude/clearance from the power lines during the landing resulting in the balloon's impacting the wires. Contributing factors were the power lines and strong winds…

## Other reports on N4522E (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20230723010369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230723010369A), Jul 23, 2023: Head Balloons Inc AX8-88 (N4522E), Guilford, CT, No damage. On July 23, 2023 at approximately 2142 EST, a Head balloons AX8-88 was providing tethered rides at the [privacy data omitted] to observe a laser light show.…

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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