# Accident 20140719014539A: Colt Balloons Ltd 160A, Clinton, MA, July 19, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 19, 2014, 19:50 local time
- Place: Clinton, MA
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.4167° N, 71.6833° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4167&lon=-71.6833&mi=10
- Aircraft: N976TC, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N976TC) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Colt Balloons 160A (registry code 2300160, https://openairdocs.org/model/colt-balloons-160a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: COLT BALLOONS LTD 160A
- Reported engine: N/A N/A
- People aboard: 7
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 3
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 4,390 total, 322 in this make and model, 24 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA14LA347](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14LA347) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140719014539A

## Narrative

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

ON JULY 19, 2014 AT APPROXIMATELY 2000 HOURS, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS OPERATING HIS BALLOON WITH SIX PASSENGERS ON BOARD FOR A SIGHT SEEING FLIGHT, TRAVELING NORTH OVER THE RESIDENTIAL AREA OF CLINTON, MA.  ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS OPERATING THE BALLOON AT AN ALTITUDE AT TREE TOP HEIGHT OVER CLINTON, MA. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN A RESIDENTIAL BACKYARD. WHILE DESCENDING FOR TOUCHDOWN IN THE RESIDENTIAL BACKYARD, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ FAILED TO CLEAR THE POWERLINES ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE INTENDED LANDING AREA. THE BASKET MADE CONTACT WITH THE TOP ROW OF POWERLINES APPROXIMATELY 12 INCHES FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE BASKET. THE POWERLINES BROKE, CREATING AN ELECTRICAL BURST WHICH CAUSED BURNS TO THE BASKET OF THE BALLOON AND BURNS TO THREE OF THE PASSENGERS ON BOARD THE BASKET. THE BALLOON LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT IN THE INTENDED LOCATION.

## 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 ERA14LA347](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14LA347), Jul 20, 2014: Colt Balloons 160A (N976TC), Clinton, MA, minor damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight and inflight planning and improper landing site selection and approach path, which resulted in the balloon contacting powerlines during landing. Contributing to the…

## Other reports on N976TC (1)

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

- [Incident 20190818014079I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190818014079I), Aug 18, 2019: Colt Balloons Ltd 160A (N976TC), Lewiston, ME, Minor damage. On 08/23/2019 during the great falls balloon festival at Lewiston auburn the balloon departed the launch site flying northeast at approximately 2000 feet. A…

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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