# NTSB DEN89LA031: Skypower 6, N46SP, Circleville, UT, November 14, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 14, 1988, 07:10 local (14:10 UTC)
- Place: Circleville, UT
- Coordinates: 37.860481, -112.339096 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8605&lon=-112.3391&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report November 24, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17641
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN89LA031
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17641/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89LA031

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, descent - normal
  - weather evaluation - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow
  - balloon equipment,control system - deployed inadvertently (cause)
  - emergency procedure - inadvertent activation, pilot in command (cause)
  - balloon equipment,envelope - dumped (cause)
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - none suitable

## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N46SP-1990-05-01), registration cancelled 1990-05-01, S/N 114 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SKYPOWER 6
- Registry model: [Skypower GBN-41-1000](https://openairdocs.org/model/skypower-gbn-41-1000) (registry code 05637G1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: 114
- Airframe hours: 191
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19881114050559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881114050559A), Nov 14, 1988: Amtr GBN411000, Circleville, UT, Substantial damage. Balloon went through frontal IMC, became off course. Made a hard landing due to red line venting and 50 knot wind.

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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