# NTSB ATL90LA104: Balloon Works 7B, N1512T, Lexington, KY, April 22, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 22, 1990, 19:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Lexington, KY
- Location: 37.9887° N, 84.4777° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Lexington, KY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9887&lon=-84.4777&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 8, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8235
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL90LA104
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8235/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL90LA104

## Probable cause

THE OVERLOAD FAILURE OF SEVERAL JUMPER CORDS. FACTOR(S) WERE INADVERTENT ENCOUNTER WITH UNFAVORABLE WIND (DUST DEVIL). SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE RATE OF DESCENT.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (cause)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, other
  - balloon equipment,suspension system/cables - overload (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, descent - uncontrolled
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

N1512T BECAME TRAPPED IN A DUST DEVIL AT CRUISE FLIGHT WHILE PARTICIPATING IN A BALLOON RALLY IN LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY. THE BALLOON STARTED A 900 FPM TWISTING CLIMB UNTIL IT REACHED 4000 FEET. AT THE TOP OF THE DUST DEVIL, THE BALLOON STARTED A RAPID DESCENT, WHICH THE PILOT COULD NOT CONTROL. THE BURNER ASSEMBLY WAS DAMAGED DURING THE CLIMB AND WOULD ONLY PRODUCE PARTIAL POWER. THE PILOT'S ATTEMPT TO CONTROL THE RATE OF DESCENT FAILED. ABOUT 50 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE PILOT CLOSED OFF THE BURNER PILOT. THE BALLOON CRASH LANDED BETWEEN TWO HOMES. EXAMINATION DISCLOSED SEVERAL TORN PANELS, BROKEN JUMPER CORDS, A BROKEN CENTER CORD, AND SEVERAL FRAYED CENTER CORDS. SUBSEQUENT TENSILE TESTS PROVED THAT THE CORDS WERE WITHIN SPECIFICATION AND THEY FAILED IN OVERLOAD. DUST DEVIL ACTIVITY NORMALLY CAN NOT BE FORECASTED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1512T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1512T-2011-06-07), registration cancelled 2011-06-07, S/N F7B-033, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BALLOON WORKS 7B
- Registry model: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-B](https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-firefly-7-b) (registry code 10501A9) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: F7B-033
- Engines: UNKNOWN UNKNOWN unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Sean R. Askren

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; commercial; flight hours: 190 total, 190 in this make and model, 160 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19900422012189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900422012189A), Apr 22, 1990: Balwks FIREFLY7B, Lexington, KY, Substantial damage. Caught in a dust devil during landing that tore off top of balloon. Partial collapsed balloon landed resident area.

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.

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