20041004024059A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Thundr AA1050 · Crescent, OK · October 4, 2004

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal NTSB investigation search

Date: October 4, 2004 · 05:30 local
Place: Crescent, OK
Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: GBSRJ
Reported as: Thundr AA1050
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 4,408 total625 in this make and model107 in the last 90 days

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) The aircraft (a balloon) was destroyed after hitting power transmission lines during landing 2 miles north of Crescent, OK. This balloon was a participant in the "america's challenge gas balloon race." The flight originated at albuquerque, NM on 10/02/2004 at 2000 MDT where VMC conditions prevailed. Pilot stated that due to storm front ahead (e) and a wind change (n) he was making a precautionary landing to avoid the possibility of being blown over a congested area (Oklahoma city). Using night vision goggles was landing in an open field and did not see the power lines in time.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) THE AIRCRAFT (A BALLOON) WAS DESTROYED AFTER HITTING POWER TRANSMISSION LINES DURING LANDING 2 MILES NORTH OF CRESCENT, OK. THIS BALLOON WAS A PARTICIPANT IN THE "AMERICA'S CHALLENGE GAS BALLOON RACE." THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT ALBUQUERQUE, NM ON 10/02/2004 AT 2000 MDT WHERE VMC CONDITIONS PREVAILED. PILOT STATED THAT DUE TO STORM FRONT AHEAD (E) AND A WIND CHANGE (N) HE WAS MAKING A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING TO AVOID THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING BLOWN OVER A CONGESTED AREA (OKLAHOMA CITY). USING NIGHT VISION GOGGLES WAS LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD AND DID NOT SEE THE POWER LINES IN TIME.