20231104017799A

ON NOVEMBER 4, 2023, AT 08:46 MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME (MST), AN AEROSTAR INTERNATIONAL, INC. RX-8 HOT AIR BALLOON ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ OPERATED BY AN FAA HOT AIR BALLOON RATED CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOT EXPERIENCED A DUAL BURNER FLAMEOUT AND AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT INTO A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF PAGE, ARIZONA. UPON THE FIRST LANDING, THE BALLOON’S GONDOLA STRUCK A VEHICLE AND ONE OF THE TWO NON-CERTIFICATED PASSENGERS FELL FROM THE GONDOLA AND SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJUIRES. THE BALLOON GAINED LIFT AND THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO LAND THE BALLOON A SECOND TIME WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE PILOT AND REMAINING PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED. THERE WAS NO REPORTED DAMAGE TO THE BALLOON’S GONDOLA OR ENVELOPE.

THE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91 PERSONAL FLIGHT DEPARTED THE JOHN C. PAGE PARK ON IT’S SECOND FLIGHT OF THE DAY AS PART OF THE ANNUAL LAKE POWELL BALLOON EVENT. THE PILOT PROVIDED A WRITTEN STATEMENT THAT WAS RECEIVED ON 11/7/2023, THE PILOT STATED THAT THE BALLOON ATTAINED A HEIGHT OF 6,200’ FEET MEAN SEA LEVEL (MSL) AND DESCENDED TO APPROXIMATELY 500’ FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL (AGL). THE PILOT THEN DESCENDED TO APPROXIMATELY 50’ FEET AGL WITH THE INTENTION TO MAKE A NORMAL LANDING ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET. THE PILOT REPORTED THE BURNERS WERE OPERATING NORMALLY DURING THE INITIAL APPROACH. THE PILOT STATED THAT WHEN HE WAS APPROACHING A POWERLINE BOTH BURNERS FAILED TO IGNITE. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO CLEAR THE POWERLINE AND ATTEMPTED TO RE-START THE PILOT-LITES WITH IGNITORS WHILE THE BALLOON BEGAN UN-COMMANDED DESCENT FROM 50’ FEET AGL. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO LIGHT ONE BURNER USING A HAND-HELD BUTANE LIGHTER, HOWEVER THE BALLOON CONTINUED ITS RAPID DESCENT AND IMPACTED THE STREET AND A PARKED VEHICLE. THE GONDOLA TILTED 90 DEGREES AFTER STRIKING THE VEHICLE. ONE PASSENGER FELL FROM THE GONDOLA FROM AN APPROXIMATE HEIGHT OF 6-8 FEET AGL. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES TO THE LOWER BACK AREA. THE BALLOON’S GONDOLA QUICKLY RIGHTED ITSELF AFTER THE STRIKING THE VEHICLE.

THE PILOT STATED THE BALLOON ASCENDED RAPIDLY TO APPROXIMATELY 300-400’ FEET AGL BUT WAS ABLE TO MAKE A SAFE LANDING AND THAT ONLY ONE BURNER BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE PILOT STATED THE BALLOON’S PROPANE TANK GAUGES INDICATED APPROXIMATELY 50% TO 55% OF FUEL REMAINING.

THE WEATHER AT PAGE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (KPGA) AT 08:53 WAS REPORTED AS:

VISIBILITY: 10 MILES - VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR)

TEMPERATURE: 53F

DEW POINT: 16F

HUMIDITY: 22%

WIND: WSW

WIND SPEED: 3 MPH

PRESSURE: 25.90 IN

THERE WAS NO REQUESTED ON-SITE EXAMINATION OF THIS ACCIDENT, AIRCRAFT OR MECHANICAL COMPONENTS. ON 11/7/2023 AND 11/8/2023 RESPECTIVELY, THE PILOT PROVIDED BOTH WRITTEN AND VERBAL STATEMENTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE THAT HIS BALLOON STRUCK. ADDITIONALLY, THE PILOT PROVIDED AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE LOGS, AIRMAN/MEDICAL CERTIFICATES, PILOT LOGBOOK AND FLIGHT REVIEW DOCUMENTATION. THE PILOT’S VERBAL STATEMENT ON 11/8/2023 BY TELEPHONE ALSO REFLECTED HIS WRITTEN STATEMENT OF THE ACCIDENT EVENT WITH THE ADMISSION THAT THE PROPANE FUEL IN ONE OF THE TWO PROPANE TANKS MAY HAVE BEEN CONTAMINATED. TO MY KNOWLEDGE THE CITY OF PAGE POLICE DEPARTMENT DID NOT WRITE A REPORT DOCUMENTING THE ACCIDENT.

THE NTSB IIC WILL BE EXAMINING THE BALLOON’S BURNER ASSEMBLY AND IGNITORS AT A FACILITY IN HURRICANE, UTAH FOR POSSIBLE MECHANICAL FAILURE OR BURNER NOZZLE BLOCKAGE AT A LATER DATE. UPON THE NTSB EXAMINATION RESULTS, THIS REPORT MAY BE AMMENDED.