# NTSB FTW04CA234: Lindstrand Balloons 90A, N6036F, Allen, TX, July 18, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 18, 2004, 07:40 local (12:40 UTC) - Place: Allen, TX - Coordinates: 33.12611, -96.683334 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1261&lon=-96.6833&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 3, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Dallas, Texas - NTSB case key (mKey): 60070 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW04CA234 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60070/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04CA234 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the power lines. A contributing factor was the gusty wind conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, taxi - aerial - terrain condition - high vegetation - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - wire,transmission ## Analysis 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. ## Factual narrative 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. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6036F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6036F-2021-01-30), registration cancelled 2021-01-30, S/N 5216, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Lindstrand Balloons 90A - Registry model: [Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 90A](https://openairdocs.org/model/arbc-inc-dba-lindstrand-90a) (registry code 5190006) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 5216 - Airframe hours: 155 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Craig Fahning - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 2003, 27 hours before - Departed: Mckinney, TX - Destination: Allen, TX - Flight plan: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review July 18, 2003; flight hours: 190 total, 180 in this make and model, 32 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 20040718015259I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040718015259I), Jul 18, 2004: Lbl 90ALBL, Allen, TX, Minor damage. (-23) On July 18, 2004 at approximately 0720 hot air balloon, registration N6036F, impacted the power lines adjacent the west exchange parkway in Allen Texas… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.