- Date
- May 5, 2012, 19:30 local (May 6, 2012, 00:30 UTC)
- Place
- Hallsville, MO
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N9079SBalloon Works Firefly 7-15
- Defining event
- Approach: Collision during takeoff/land
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 28, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA Flight Standards District Office
- FAA report
- 20120505007689A
- Case key
- 83571
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines during landing.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
During the slow descent from about 300 feet, the hot air balloon hit power lines. The pilot stated that, as the balloon descended, the wind shifted, and the forward speed of the balloon was reduced. Instead of continuing past the power lines, the gondola of the balloon descended between the power lines, and the envelope of the balloon became entangled in the wires. A postimpact fire ensued, resulting in substantial damage to the envelope and gondola. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical anomalies with the balloon prior to the accident.
Factual narrative
During the slow descent from approximately 300 feet, the hot air balloon hit powerlines. The pilot stated that as the balloon descended, the winds shifted and the forward speed of the balloon was reduced. Instead of continuing past the powerlines, the gondola of the balloon descended between the powerlines and the envelope of the balloon became entangled in the wires. A post impact fire ensued, resulting in substantial damage of the envelope and gondola. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical anomalies with the balloon prior to the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9079S
- Reported as
- Balloon Works Firefly 7-15
- Category
- Balloon
- Serial number
- F7-751
- Airframe hours
- 168
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 28, 2011
- Departed
- Hallsville, MO
- Destination
- Hallsville, MO
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 57
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Last flight review
- August 17, 2011
- Flight hours
- 52 total · 52 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.82 inHg
- Observed at
- KCOU
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 21, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.6 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.