- Date
- June 6, 2012, 20:50 local (Jun 7, 2012, 00:50 UTC)
- Place
- Sellersburg, IN
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N401DJCameron Balloons Z-90
- Defining event
- Maneuvering: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 4, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA - Indianapolis FSDO
- FAA report
- 20120606012979A
- Case key
- 83890
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 NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
The balloon pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings.
Analysis
Passengers in the balloon reported that the balloon initially landed in an unmowed field that wasn't easily accessible by ground vehicles. They reported that the pilot decided to move the balloon to an adjacent field. The passengers noted that there was a fence and power lines that had to be crossed to get to the field. There were 3 lines on the power line poles, 2 of which were thinner and not as visible. The passengers reported that the balloon was traveling into the setting sun and that they believed the pilot only saw the lower, more visible power line. The passengers reported that when the balloon struck the power line a large arc ensued, and the pilot was thrown rearward into one of the passengers. The pilot was unconscious, and the passengers were able to deflate the balloon with verbal assistance from the ground crew. The pilot reported that he has no memory of the accident after the initial landing. Postaccident inspection of the balloon revealed no preimpact defects and minor damage.
Factual narrative
Passengers in the balloon reported that the balloon initially landed in an "unmowed field" that wasn't easily accessible by ground vehicles. They reported that the pilot decided to move the balloon to an adjacent field. The passengers noted that there was a fence and power lines that had to be crossed to get to the adjacent field. There were 3 lines on the poles and 2 were thinner and not as visible. The passengers reported that the balloon was traveling into the setting sun and they believe the pilot only saw the lower more visible power line. The passengers reported that when the balloon struck the power line a large arc ensued and the pilot was thrown rearward into one of the passengers. The pilot was unconscious at this time and the passengers were able to deflate the balloon with verbal assistance from the ground crew. The pilot reported that he has no memory of the accident after the initial landing. Postaccident inspection of the balloon revealed no preimpact defects and minor damage. The pilot received serious injuries and one passenger received minor injuries.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N401DJ
- Reported as
- Cameron Balloons Z-90
- Category
- Balloon
- Serial number
- 6291
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 91
- Operator
- Dallas I. Beall III
- Registered owner
- Dallas Jewelers Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 2, 2012
- Departed
- Memphis, IN
- Destination
- Sellersburg, IN
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
- 65
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Flight hours
- 1,396 total · 1,350 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 20° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.01 inHg
- Observed at
- LOU, 10 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 1, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 327 KB 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.