- Date
- April 12, 2015, 18:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place
- Intercourse, PA
- Injuries
- 3 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N3099FHead Balloons AX8 105 - NO Series
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 29, 2015
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA Harrisburg FSDO
- FAA report
- 20150412006269A
- Case key
- 91190
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 selection of unsuitable terrain/location for takeoff in gusting wind conditions, resulting in a collision with a building, and substantial damage to the hot air balloon.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot of the hot air balloon reported, "a gust of wind created a false lift effect on the balloon" during takeoff. The pilot's heat application to increase lift was insufficient to avoid colliding with a building. During the collision the hot air balloon sustained substantial damage to 44 of the 384 balloon panels. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the hot air balloon prior to flight that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the hot air balloon reported, "a gust of wind created a false lift effect on the balloon" during takeoff. The pilot's heat application to increase lift was insufficient to avoid colliding with a building. During the collision the hot air balloon sustained substantial damage to 44 of the 384 balloon panels. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the hot air balloon prior to flight that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3099F
- Reported as
- Head Balloons AX8 105 - NO Series
- Category
- Balloon
- Serial number
- 317
- Built
- 2002
- Airframe hours
- 370
- Engine
- none
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 91
- Operator
- Fisher Robert W, doing business as New Horizon Balloon Team
- Registered owner
- Fisher Robert W
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Balloon
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 13, 2014
- Departed
- Intercourse, PA
- Destination
- Intercourse, PA
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
- 52
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Last flight review
- April 6, 2015
- Seat
- None
- Restraint
- None
- Flight hours
- 495 total · 227 in this make and model · 495 as pilot in command · 3 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 170° at 11 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.25 inHg
- Observed at
- LNS, 9 nm away
Docket · 5
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 22, 2015, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.6 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.