- Date
- July 7, 2004, 20:25 local (Jul 8, 2004, 01:25 UTC)
- Place
- Sioux Falls, SD
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N5001JAerostar S53H
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 24, 2005
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA-Rapids City FSDO
- FAA report
- 20040708015509A
- Case key
- 59877
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 selection of an unsuitable landing area for the balloon and his failure to maintain clearance with the transmission line. A contributing factor was the presence of the transmission line.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The balloon was substantially damaged when it contacted power transmission lines during landing. The pilot reported that after lift off the flight proceed on a westerly heading approximately 9 knots groundspeed for 17 minutes. He then selected an alfalfa field with 3 scattered hay bales as a landing site and began a descent. The pilot stated he activated the burner to slow the descent as the balloon neared the field. He noted that as the basket contacted the ground, it bounced and "skidded" toward one of the hay bales. After it "bounced off" the bale, the pilot reported that he heard the crew chief warn of power lines ahead. He stated: "I 'ripped-out' the top of the balloon to its maximum, in order to let the air out." He reported that the basket settled on a roadway and slid down a ditch. The balloon envelope subsequently contacted the power lines adjacent to the road. Concerning safety recommendations, the pilot noted "awareness of surface conditions and location of power lines." The pilot reported that there were no malfunctions associated with the balloon. The Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) at the Joe Foss Field Airport (FSD) in Sioux Falls, at 1956, recorded winds from 080 degrees at 7 knots. The pilot reported winds from 090 degrees at 9 knots.
Factual narrative
On July 7, 2004, at 2025 central daylight time, an Aerostar S53H balloon, N5001J, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it encountered power transmission lines during landing near Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot and passenger reported no injuries. The local flight departed from Sioux Falls about 1925.
The pilot reported that the flight departed from a high school football field and climbed to 1,100 feet above ground level. The flight proceeded on a westerly heading about 8 knots ground speed for approximately 17 minutes according to the pilot. He selected an alfalfa field with 3 scattered hay bales as a landing site and began a descent.
The pilot stated he activated the burner to slow the descent as the balloon neared the field. He noted that as the basket contacted the ground, it bounced and "skidded" toward one of the hay bales. After it "bounced off" of the bale, the pilot reported that he heard the crew chief warn of power lines ahead. He stated: "I 'ripped-out' the top of the balloon to its maximum, in order to let the air out." He reported that the basket settled on a roadway and slid down a ditch. The balloon envelope subsequently contacted the power lines adjacent to the road.
Concerning safety recommendations, the pilot stated "awareness of surface conditions and location of power lines."
The pilot reported that there were no malfunctions associated with the balloon.
The Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) at the Joe Foss Field Airport (FSD) in Sioux Falls, at 1956, recorded winds from 080 degrees at 7 knots. The pilot reported winds from 090 degrees at 9 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5001J
- Reported as
- Aerostar S53H
- Category
- Balloon
- Serial number
- S53H-3004
- Airframe hours
- 81.5
- Engine
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 24, 2003 · 31.5 hours before
- Departed
- Sioux Falls, SD
- Flight plan
- VFR
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
- 47
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Last flight review
- May 22, 2003
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 56 total · 44 as pilot in command · 9 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 80° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.88 inHg
- Observed at
- FSD
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.