- Date
- November 4, 1989, 07:00 local (13:00 UTC)
- Place
- Bryan, TX
- Injuries
- 5 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N2055KCameron N-105
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 25, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19891104044259A
- Case key
- 23071
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
Pilot's misjudgement/compensation for the wind change and his delayed response in initiating a climb in order to clear the tower.
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
Prior to a balloon launch, the winds at the public park launch site were light and variable. After launching and during the initial climb, the pilot encountered a wind shift and increase in wind speed. The pilot was slow to respond and initiate an ascent that would allow his balloon to clear a 527 feet AGL marked tower that was located approximately 1.25 statute mile from the park. The balloon struck the upper most portion of the tower and the envelope was torn and collapsed causing a rapid descent to the ground.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2055K
- Reported as
- Cameron N-105
- Category
- Balloon
- Serial number
- 5415
- Engine
- unknown
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- In-Flight
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Daniel M. Mcguire
- Registered owner
- Cheron Inc.
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
- 24
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 799 total · 83 in this make and model · 640 as pilot in command · 23 in the last 90 days · 11 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 130° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 50 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- CLL, 5 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.