# Accident 20051002028509A: GROM1, Lakin, KS, October 2, 2005

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 2, 2005, 16:00 local time
- Place: Lakin, KS
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Final Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.6064° N, 101.3783° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6064&lon=-101.3783&mi=10
- Aircraft: N96YD, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N96YD-2017-06-30) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Abruzzo R/Peak Express Balloon GROM-1 (registry code 05606KI, https://openairdocs.org/model/abruzzo-r-peak-express-balloon-grom-1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GROM1
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,850 total, 1,850 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DEN06LA016](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN06LA016) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20051002028509A

## Narrative

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

(-23) DURING A CROSS-COUNTRY COMPETITIVE FLIGHT ON OCTOBER 2, 2005, N96YD, A GROM-1 GAS BALLOON, WAS ENTANGLED IN POWER LINES NEAR LAKIN, KS. WHILE IN THE PROCESS OF DISENGAGING FROM THE POWER LINES AND RELEASING BALLAST, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, HOLDER OF COMMERCIAL PILOT CERTIFICATE ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AND PILOT IN COMMAND OF THE AIRCRAFT, FELL FROM THE GONDOLA AND LANDED ON THE GROUND, SUFFERING SOME INJURY. AFTER LOSING WEIGHT THE BALLOON ROSE FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE WITH THE REMAINING RATED PILOT, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, HOLDER OF COMMERCIAL PILOT CERTIFICATE ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, ON BOARD FINALLY COMING TO REST AT A LOCATION SOME 15 TO 18 MILES FROM THE INCIDENT SITE. BOTH PILOTS CLAIM A "DOWNDRAFT" FORCED THE BALLOON'S DESCENT FROM THE CRUISING ALTITUDE OF 14,000 FEET TO THE EARTH'S SURFACE.

## 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 DEN06LA016](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN06LA016), Oct 2, 2005: Abruzzo Grom-1 (N96YD), Kendall, KS, minor damage. Probable cause: the downdraft forcing the balloon into the power lines. A contrbuting factor was the clear air turbulence and the power lines.

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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