FTW04CA234

A 190-hour balloon pilot carrying two first-time balloon passengers landed in an open field and realized that the grass there was very tall. To aid the recovery of his balloon, the pilot elected to reposition the balloon closer a road where the grass was shorter. While repositioning the balloon, the pilot noticed power lines located along the road. Subsequently, the pilot shut-off the fuel and pilot light on the burner and opened the deflation port to deflate the envelope. During the deflation process, a gust of wind blew the balloon along the ground at a 45-degree angle toward the power lines. The pilot and the two passengers exited the basket before the envelope collided with the power lines. After approximately 30 to 45 seconds, the envelope was blown off the power lines and on to the nearby road.

On July 18, 2004, approximately 0740 central daylight time, a Lindstrand 90A hot-air balloon, N6036F, registered to the pilot, was substantially damaged when it collided with power lines after landing near Allen, Texas. The commercial pilot and the two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight originated from a field near McKinney, Texas.

In a written statement, the190-hour balloon pilot reported that he landed approximately 1/3 down the field and realized that the grass there was very tall. For the convenience his two first-time balloon passengers and to aid the recovery of his balloon, the pilot elected to reposition the balloon closer a road where the grass was shorter. While repositioning the balloon, the pilot then noticed power lines located along the road. Subsequently, the pilot shut-off the fuel and pilot light on the burner and opened the deflation port to deflate the envelope. During the deflation process, a gust of wind blew the balloon along the ground at a 45-degree angle toward the power lines. The pilot and the passengers exited the basket before the envelope collided with the power lines. After approximately 30 to 45 seconds, the envelope was blown off the power lines and on to the nearby road.

Examination of the balloon by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed "several large burned-out" holes in the fabric of the envelope.

Prior to the flight, the pilot obtained weather conditions from multiple sources and reported that at the time of the incident, the wind was from a northerly direction at 8 knots, the sky was clear, visibility was 10 statute miles, temperature was 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and the barometric pressure was 29.98 inches of Mercury.