CHI97LA207

The pilot reported that during an approach to land, the descent rate was to fast and that the balloon was not going to clear power lines. He said he '. . . valved to hit at envelope rather than the basket.' The pilot reported that the occupants stayed in the basket until the ground crew confirmed that the envelope had been separated from the power lines. He then, 'noticed several area's of smoldering fire in the envelope, and put out fire with fire extinguishers.' After the accident, the pilot reported that he should have, 'waited longer for wind to go down or for a larger landing area.' About 7 miles west at Columbia, MO, the wind was reported to be from 160 degrees at 6 knots.

On July 4, 1997, at 2015 central daylight time, a Balloon Works Firefly 7, N1527B, piloted by a commercial pilot, collided with an electrical power transmission line during landing. The balloon envelope suffered substantial damage from resulting fire. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot and two passengers reported no injuries. The flight departed Columbia, Missouri , 1945 central daylight time, for a local flight.

In a written statement by the pilot in command, he stated that during the final landing phase, "descent rate was to fast, was not going to clear power lines, valved to hit at envelope rather than the basket." The pilot reported that the occupants stayed in the basket until the ground crew confirmed that the envelope had been separated from the power lines. The pilot stated that he, "noticed several area's of smoldering fire in the envelope, and put out fire with fire extinguishers." Subsequently after the accident, the pilot reported that he should have, "waited longer for wind to go down or for a larger landing area." The wind, observed by the Columbia automated surface observation system, was indicated at six knots.