- Date
- July 1, 1994, 07:30 local (13:30 UTC)
- Place
- Littleton, CO
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N748CBCameron V-77
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 12, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940701017229A
- Case key
- 19103
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
A total failure of the balloon's heater system (pilot light) for undetermined reasons. A factor was unsuitable terrain on which to make a forced landing.
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
Shortly after lifting off, the pilot light on the balloon's propane burner extinguished for undetermined reasons, and attempts to relight it were unsuccessful. Because the balloon was descending near powerlines, the pilot 'vented' in order to rapidly lose altitude. The balloon touched down on a highway, bounced back up, and the envelope contacted powerlines, burning several envelope panels.
Factual narrative
On July 1, 1994, approximately 0730 mountain daylight time, N748CB, a Cameron Balloons V-77, was substantially damaged when it collided with powerlines in Littleton, Colorado. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.
The following is based on the pilot/operator report. Shortly after lifting off, the pilot light on the propane burner extinguished for undetermined reasons, and attempts to relight it were unsuccessful. Because the balloon was descending near powerlines, the pilot "vented" in order to rapidly lose altitude. The balloon touched down on a highway, bounced back up, and the envelope contacted powerlines about 20 feet above the basket. Several envelope panels were damaged by electrical arcing and there was a small grass fire.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N748CB
- Reported as
- Cameron V-77
- Category
- Balloon
- Serial number
- 635
- Engine
- unknown
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- In-Flight
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Waltman, Carolyn D.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 29, 1994 · 0 hours before
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
- 42
- Certificate
- Private
- Flight hours
- 18 total · 2 as pilot in command · 4 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- APA, 10 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.