- Date
- November 14, 1988, 07:10 local (14:10 UTC)
- Place
- Circleville, UT
- Injuries
- 2 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N46SPSkypower 6
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Status
- Completed · report November 24, 1989
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19881114050559A
- Case key
- 17641
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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 commercial balloon pilot and a commercial rated passenger were making an overnight flight. The balloon was equipped with instruments and equipment that allowed flight following by los angeles ARTCC. The flight became engulfed in a cold front and endured heavy turbulence, strong up and down drafts, sleet, snow and freezing temperatures. Winds of over 60 knots pushed the balloon toward Utah. At daylight the plt attempted to land near Circleville, Utah. The passenger said the plt mistakenly pulled the 'red line' which dumped all the helium. The balloon fell at a rate beyond the maximum readings on the VSI.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N46SP
- Reported as
- Skypower 6
- Category
- Balloon
- Serial number
- 114
- Airframe hours
- 191
- Engine
- unknown
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Scorpion Balloons, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 20, 1988
- Departed
- Anaheim, CA
- 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
- 46
- Certificates
- Commercial, Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 729 total · 62 in this make and model · 590 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Wind
- 225° at 30 knots, gusting 50
- Visibility
- 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,000 ft
- Temperature
- 10 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.