# Accident 20090208010639A: Camron V77CAMERON, Terre Haute, IN, February 8, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 8, 2009, 16:30 local time
- Place: Terre Haute, IN
- Airport: Terre Haute International-Hulman Field
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.4514° N, 87.3075° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4514&lon=-87.3075&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7524J, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7524J-2012-08-21) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cameron Balloons US V-77 (registry code 1880206, https://openairdocs.org/model/cameron-balloons-us-v-77) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CAMRON V77CAMERON
- Reported engine: CB391A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 238 total, 25 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN09CA162](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA162) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090208010639A

## Narrative

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

APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES AFTER LIFT OFF, THE PILOT LIGHT ON THE BALLOON'S PROPANE BURNER EXTINGUISHED FOR UNKNOWN REASONS, AND MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO RELIGHT IT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL.  BECAUSE THE BALLOON WAS DESCENDING NEAR POWER LINES, THE PILOT PULLED THE RIP CORD TO VENT THE ENVELOPE IN ORDER TO RAPIDLY LOSE THE REMAINING ALTITUDE.  THE BALLOON ENVELOPE CONTACTED THE POWER LINES JUST BEFORE TOUCHING DOWN, IGNITING THE BALLOON.  THE PASSENGER AND PILOT WERE ABLE TO EXIT THE BASKET AND RUN TO SAFETY.  THE ENVELOPE AND BASKET WERE DESTROYED IN THE FIRE.

## 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 CEN09CA162](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA162), Feb 8, 2009: Cameron Balloons V-77 (N7524J), Terre Haute, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of the burner pilot light during approach to the landing area and the pilot's failure to relight the burner using alternate sources.

## Other reports on N7524J (1)

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

- [Incident 20050903031309I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050903031309I), Sep 3, 2005: Camron V77CAMERON (N7524J), Plymouth, IN, Minor damage. (-23) Pilot reported that he experienced a burner failure during flight. Several attempts to re-light the burner failed. Several attempts made at the pilot's…

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.
