- Date
- August 15, 1992, 07:50 local (12:50 UTC)
- Place
- Tyler, TX
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- GPATYThunder and Colt Special Shape
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 30, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 18554
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 altitude and clearance from obstacles.
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
The balloon collided with 69,000 volt power transmission lines while attempting to maneuver toward a drop zone during an organized balloon race. The balloon basket was about 20 to 25 feet off of the ground at the time of the collision. The wires arced through the basket suspension lines. Arc holes were found in both fuel tanks and the fuel was ignited. The basket fell to the ground when the envelope was released.
Aircraft
- Registration
- GPATY
- Reported as
- Thunder and Colt Special Shape (SPECIAL SH)
- Category
- Balloon
- Engine
- unknown
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Foster, Coy Z.
- Registered owner
- Owens Sausage
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Unknown · January 2, 2000
- Departed
- NONE
- Destination
- NONE
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 51
- Certificates
- Private, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Flight hours
- 1,000 total · 700 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 40° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- TYR, 7 nm away