- Date
- July 30, 2022, 05:20 local (10:20 UTC)
- Place
- Indianola, IA · An open farm field
- Injuries
- 3 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N316EBArbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 150A
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20220730019779A
- Case key
- 105651
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 low-level maneuvering.
Findings · 2
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
The pilot reported that, while maneuvering the balloon for a pre-dawn hot air balloon flight, the balloon struck a power line that he did not see. The contact created an on-board fire, which resulted in serious injuries to two passengers. The pilot was able to land safety in a grass field.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N316EB
- Reported as
- Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 150A
- Category
- Balloon
- Serial number
- 5651
- Built
- 2018
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Fire
- In-Flight
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Balloon
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 11, 2022
- Departed
- None · Indianola, IA
- Airport
- Memorial Balloon Field
- Equipment
- None
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
- 63
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Last flight review
- June 1, 2021
- Seat
- None
- Restraint
- None
- Flight hours
- 1,140 total · 205 in this make and model · 14 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 150° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 3017.00 inHg
- Observed at
- National Balloon Classic Pilot Briefing
- METAR
- KDSM 300954Z 15003KT 10SM CLR 18/13 A3017 RMK AO2
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 15, 2022, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.7 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.