- Date
- May 28, 1983, 06:45 local (11:45 UTC)
- Place
- Decatur, AL
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N2023HBarnes AX-6B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19830528021309A
- Case key
- 6079
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The balloon was launched from a field with power lines along the east side after another balloon was launched. The first balloon was aprx 50 ft from the power line when it was launched. When it tookoff, it traveled to the north northwest & remained well clear of the power lines. The second balloon, N2023H, lifted off aprx 35 ft from the power lines. Immediately after lift-off, N2023H climbed towards the power lines & contacted the top two wires. Electrical arcing occurred which damaged the gondola. The plt was burned on his right side, right arm & right side of his face, and was incapacitated. The passenger received only minor burns to his hands & was able to land the balloon without further incident. Later, the plt stated that there was a sudden wind shift.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2023H
- Reported as
- Barnes AX-6B
- Category
- Balloon
- Airframe hours
- 180
- Engine
- unknown
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- In-Flight
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- James W. Napier III
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 1, 1982 · 35 hours before
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 51
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Unknown
- Flight hours
- 2,800 total · 200 in this make and model · 10 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 30° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.