- Date
- July 24, 1994, 07:30 local (12:30 UTC)
- Place
- Pflugerville, TX
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N1990SCameron V-77
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 13, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940724019019A
- Case key
- 19116
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 control. A factor was the unfavorable wind.
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
While attempting to land, the balloon encountered a shift in wind direction and velocity. The basket struck the ground and the balloon drifted into a set of power lines. The envelope went over power lines and gondola was on its side causing the burner unit to ignite the grass. The ensuing fire consumed the envelope.
Factual narrative
On July 24, 1994, at 0730 central daylight time, a Cameron V-77 N1990S, was destroyed while landing near Pflugerville, Texas. The airline transport rated pilot was not injured. Weather for the 14 CFR 91 flight was visual meteorological conditions.
The pilot reported that while he was attempting to land, a gust of wind caused the balloon to drift into electrical wires. The ensuing collision resulted in the gondola turning on its side. When the balloon came to rest the burner unit ignited the grass and the fire consumed the balloon.
Numerous attempts to have the pilot complete the NTSB Pilot/Operator report were unsuccessful.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1990S
- Reported as
- Cameron V-77
- Category
- Balloon
- Serial number
- 5268
- Engine
- unknown
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Allen, Robert M.
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
- 50
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 15,450 total · 200 in the last 90 days · 67 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 170° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- AUS
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.