# NTSB CEN24LA009: Ballonbau Wörner NL-STU/1000, Crandall, TX, October 10, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: October 9, 2023, 19:25 local (Oct 10, 2023, 00:25 UTC)
- Place: Crandall, TX · Power transmission/distribution lines
- Coordinates: 32.64716, -96.46716 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6472&lon=-96.4672&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - North Texas FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 193221
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA009
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193221/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193221
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA009

## Probable cause

The pilot-in-command’s inadequate descent planning that resulted in the balloon contacting power lines shortly after landing and an explosion of hydrogen gas.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md)
- [Planning/preparation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)
- [Post-impact: Explosion (post-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/180); cases with it: [All aircraft, 47 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/180/sequence.md)
- [Post-impact: Fire/smoke (post-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170); cases with it: [All aircraft, 354 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilots were competing in a multi-day, cross-country balloon race. The pilot-in-command stated that they were in a planned descent when they heard gunfire on the ground and ahead of their hydrogen balloon. When interviewed, the pilot-in-command stated that that he never heard any bullets passing by or impacting the balloon, nor did he observe any tracer rounds associated with the gunfire. The flight crew decided to continue the descent and land due to their concerns of flying the balloon at night, at a low altitude, with gunfire activity at the surface. As the balloon descended toward a lighted power substation, the flight crew attempted to jettison ballast to slow the balloon’s decent and clear power lines; however, about 50-100 ft above the ground, the pilot-in-command determined that the balloon would not clear the power lines and he fully opened the balloon’s gas vent to rapidly release the hydrogen and descend rapidly to the surface. The balloon’s basket impacted the ground before the envelope blew into the power lines creating a spark and an explosion of the remaining hydrogen gas. The balloon was destroyed during the hydrogen explosion and postaccident ground fire. Both flight crew members sustained serious injuries during the ground impact, explosion, and ground fire. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: D-OGBL (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Ballonbau Wörner GmbH NL-STU/1000
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: 1110
- Year built: 2020
- Airframe hours: 101
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Air race/show, Part 91
- Operator: Global Ballooning Sl d.o.o.
- Registered owner: Global Ballooning Sl d.o.o.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon
- Last inspection: Annual, June 3, 2023
- Departed: ABQ, Albuquerque, NM
- Destination: Same as departure
- Flight plan: VFR
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; injuries: serious; commercial; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 4, 2022; seat: none; restraint: none; flight hours: 1,994 total, 1,144 in this make and model, 1,994 as pilot in command, 91 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 24 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot; age 60; injuries: serious; commercial; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: none; restraint: none; flight hours: 952 total, 130 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 160° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observed at: HQZ, 7 nm away
- METAR: KHQZ 100050Z 16005KT 10SM CLR 23/12 A2984

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 28, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193221. 62.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17130702&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01%20-%20Pilot%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- FAA record of conversation (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 95 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17131533&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=02%20-%20FAA%20Record%20Of%20Conversation_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- NTSB record of conversation (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17131442&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=03%20-%20NTSB%20Record%20of%20Conversation-Rel.pdf
- Recorded flight track (item 4, PDF, 13 pages, 37.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17131633&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=04%20-%20Recorded%20Flight%20Path-Rel.pdf
- Witness video (item 5, MOV, 21.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17131543&FileExtension=MOV&FileName=05%20-%20Witness%20Video%20of%20Accident-Rel.MOV

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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