- Date
- March 24, 2018, 08:45 local (12:45 UTC)
- Place
- Wesley Chapel, FL
- Injuries
- 3 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N1517HLindstrand Balloons 105A
- Defining event
- Landing: Collision during takeoff/land
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 3
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20180324014639A
- Case key
- 96952
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 failure to maintain adequate clearance from powerlines during landing approach, which resulted in an inflight collision with the powerlines.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot stated that, as the balloon approached the intended landing site, he saw that the area was roped off. He then decided to proceed to his alternate landing site, which was an adjacent field located behind a shopping center. He began a descent toward the alternate site and saw power lines as he passed over the shopping center. The pilot attempted to climb over the powerlines by activating the burners, but upon realizing that it was too late to climb, he secured the fuel and told his passengers to prepare for a hard landing. The balloon descended into the powerlines, resulting in substantial damage to the cables, throat, and scoop; then landed upright in the field. Recorded weather conditions near the accident site included calm wind. The accident is consistent with the pilot's failure to maintain clearance from powerlines during landing approach.
Factual narrative
On March 24, 2018, about 0845 eastern daylight time, a Lindstrand Balloons 105A, N1517H, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Wesley Chapel, Florida. The commercial pilot and two passengers sustained minor injuries. The balloon was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 sightseeing flight. The pilot reported that he was preparing to land, and as the balloon approached the landing site, he saw that the area was roped off. He then decided to land at his alternate landing site, which was an adjacent field located behind a shopping center. He began a descent toward the alternate site and saw power lines as he passed over the stores. The pilot applied the burners in an attempt to climb, but realized that it was too late and that the balloon was going to hit the powerlines. The pilot told the passengers that there would be a hard landing and to, "get down." The pilot secured the fuel at the burners and the tanks. The balloon descended straight down and the pilot heard a "pop" and felt sparks on his shoulders as the balloon hit the powerlines. The basket landed upright, and witnesses came to assist. An examination of the balloon by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the balloon cables, throat, and scoop were damaged during the collision with the powerlines.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1517H
- Reported as
- Lindstrand Balloons 105A (NO SERIES)
- Category
- Balloon
- Serial number
- 5371
- Built
- 2007
- Airframe hours
- 193.4
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Balloon
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 11, 2017
- Departed
- Zephyrhills, FL
- Destination
- Wesley Chapel, FL
- Equipment
- None
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
- 62
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Seat
- None
- Restraint
- None
- Flight hours
- 339 total · 193 in this make and model · 303 as pilot in command · 2 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 45 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.23 inHg
- Observed at
- ZPH, 18 nm away
Docket · 4
The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 1, 2020, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.4 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.