# NTSB CEN16LA352: Cameron Z90, N982ZS, Morrill, NE, September 4, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 4, 2016, 08:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Morrill, NE - Coordinates: 42.000278, -103.883056 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0003&lon=-103.8831&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 1, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 93949 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN16LA352 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93949/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93949 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA352 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper inflight fuel management, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and an inability to avoid contact with power lines. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons Z-90, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1880300), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring equip/instruments](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons Z-90, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/cases.md?model=1880300), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cameron Balloons Z-90, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=1880300), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons Z-90, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=1880300), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons Z-90, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=1880300), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) ## Analysis The balloon was participating in a festival, and departed from a grass field with the private pilot and two passengers on board. The balloon climbed to 1,100 ft above ground level and drifted west. The pilot reported that, as the balloon approached a set of power lines, the wind diminished and the balloon became stationary. The pilot changed altitude several times in an attempt to find wind velocity and direction that would move the balloon away from the lines; however, as he again engaged the burners and attempted to climb, the burner system ran out of fuel. The balloon descended, and one of the metal carabiners that attached the basket to the envelope struck a power line, resulting in a spark. The pilot pulled the deflation valve and immediately descended the balloon to the ground. A postaccident examination of the balloon showed impact and thermal arcing damage to the carabiner. Two of the envelope panels exhibited thermal damage, and the envelope temperature sensor wire, which runs from the top of the envelope to the instruments in the basket, was burnt in half. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the balloon. ## Factual narrative On September 4, 2016, about 0830 mountain daylight time, a Cameron Z-90 lighter than air balloon with airborne heater, N982ZS, struck a power line and terrain during an uncontrolled descent, two and a half miles northeast of Morrill, Nebraska. The pilot and two passengers on board were not injured and the balloon received substantial damage. The balloon was registered to, and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed for the flight that was operated without a flight plan. The local flight originated from the Mitchell, Nebraska, about 0726.The flight was part of a balloon festival that was taking place at the time. The pilot and passengers took off from a field near Mitchell, Nebraska, climbed to 1,100 ft. agl, and drifted west at 4 to 5 knots. The pilot reported that as he came over the power lines the wind speed reduced to calm and the balloon stopped. The pilot changed altitudes several times to find wind velocity and a vector that would move him away from the lines. After several attempts to maneuver away from the lines the pilot engaged the burners to climb to a higher altitude. As he engaged the burners, the pilot said he heard a change in the burners sound. He checked his fuel gauges; the quantity was low, and engaged the burners again, but the balloon began to lose altitude. During the uncontrolled descent, the balloon contacted the power lines causing a spark. The pilot pulled the deflation line to get the basket on the ground. The balloon basket contacted the ground and the envelope draped over the power lines. An examination of the balloon showed thermal arcing damage to one of the carabineers that attached the basket to the envelope. There was also thermal damage to two panels in the balloon envelope, and the envelope temperature sensor wire that runs from the sensor at the top of the envelope to the instruments in the basket was burnt in half. No other anomalies with the balloon or its systems were found. At 0853, the weather conditions at Western Nebraska Regional Airport (BFF), Scottsbluff, Nebraska, 18 nautical miles east-southeast of the accident site was clear skies, visibility 10 statute miles, and wind 150 degrees at 6 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N982ZS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N982ZS), registered now, S/N 6198, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CAMERON Z90 - Registry model: [Cameron Balloons Z-90](https://openairdocs.org/model/cameron-balloons-z-90) (registry code 1880300) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 6198 - Year built: 2012 - Airframe hours: 403 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Mitchell, NE - Destination: Morrill, NE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; private; medical: unknown; flight hours: 96 total, 96 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.85 inHg - Observed at: BFF, 18 nm away ## 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 20160904016229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160904016229A), Sep 4, 2016: Cameron Balloons Z-90, Mitchell, NE, Minor damage. September 4, 2016, 0930 CST Sunday morning balloon N982ZS moving north, northwest at 1 knot struck power lines while attemping to land. Balloon lost all… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 29, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93949. 2.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 760 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40450471&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Weather History, Scottsbluff, Nebraska (item 2, .PDF, 410 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40450472&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20History,%20Scottsbluff,%20Nebraska-Master.PDF - Scotts Bluff County Sheriff Incident Report (item 3, .PDF, 261 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40450474&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Scotts%20Bluff%20County%20Sheriff%20Incident%20Report-Master.PDF - Scotts Bluff County Sheriff's Office Press Release (item 4, .PDF, 252 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40450475&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Scotts%20Bluff%20County%20Sheriff%27s%20Office%20Press%20Release-Master.PDF - E-Mail FAA Inspector's Balloon Examination (item 5, .PDF, 320 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40450476&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=E-Mail%20FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Balloon%20Examination-Master.PDF - Balloon Accident Photographs (item 6, .PDF, 459 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40450477&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Balloon%20Accident%20Photographs-Master.PDF - E-Mail, Aviation Engineering Assessment of Balloon Damage (item 7, .PDF, 265 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40450478&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=E-Mail,%20Aviation%20Engineering%20Assessment%20of%20Balloon%20Damage-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.