# NTSB GAA17CA262: Balony Kubicek Spol Sro BB70Z, N245DK, Park City, UT, April 22, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 22, 2017, 08:40 local (14:40 UTC) - Place: Park City, UT - Coordinates: 40.752223, -111.566947 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7522&lon=-111.5669&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 9 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 20, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 95121 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA262 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95121/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95121 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA262 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to see and avoid power lines during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Balony Kubicek Spol Sro BB70Z, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=1370508), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Balony Kubicek Spol Sro BB70Z, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=1370508), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [Balony Kubicek Spol Sro BB70Z, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=1370508), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Balony Kubicek Spol Sro BB70Z, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=1370508), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Balony Kubicek Spol Sro BB70Z, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=1370508), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Balony Kubicek Spol Sro BB70Z, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=1370508), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Balony Kubicek Spol Sro BB70Z, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=1370508), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Balony Kubicek Spol Sro BB70Z, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=1370508), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Balony Kubicek Spol Sro BB70Z, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1370508), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the wind shifted before departure and that, although this would result in the balloon travelling to an area with "limited landing opportunities," he chose to continue the departure. During landing, the balloon descended to about 20 to 30 ft above the ground, and the landing area was on a hillside that had a commercial building on the top and that, at the base of the hill, was a short pole with guy wires. He did not see any other poles, so he "focused" on the intended landing site. As the balloon approached the landing site, a passenger asked, "if we would hit that power line?" He looked up and saw two power lines above and forward of the balloon's path, and he immediately vented the balloon to land and stop its forward progress. The balloon collided with the power lines and settled to the ground. The balloon sustained substantial damage to 3 of its 24 cables that attach the envelope to the basket. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that the wind shifted before departure and the balloon would travel to an area with "limited landing opportunities", but he elected to continue the departure. During landing, the balloon descended to approximately 20-30 ft. above the ground, and the landing area was on a dry hillside just past a wetland. He added that the hillside had a commercial building on the top, and at the base of the hill was a short pole with guy-wires. He did not see any other poles, so he "focused" on the intended landing site. As the balloon approached the landing site, a passenger asked, "if we would hit that powerline?" He looked up and saw two powerlines above and forward of the balloon's path, and he immediately vented the balloon to land and stop their forward progress. The balloon collided with the powerlines and settled to the ground. The balloon sustained substantial damage to 3 of its 24 cables that attach the envelope to the basket. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N245DK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N245DK), registered now, S/N 817, built 2011 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BALONY KUBICEK SPOL SRO BB70Z (60) - Registry model: [Balony Kubicek Spol Sro BB70Z](https://openairdocs.org/model/balony-kubicek-spol-sro-bb70z) (registry code 1370508) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 817 - Year built: 2011 - Engines: none - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon - Destination: Park City, UT - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; commercial; last flight review June 16, 2015; seat: none; restraint: none; flight hours: 1,642 total, 327 in this make and model, 1,606 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Observed at: KSLC, 18 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20170422003429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170422003429A), Apr 22, 2017: Balony Kubicek Spol Sro BB70Z, Park City, UT, Substantial damage. The aircraft was on an approach to land to a field west of his location. He was following drainage (winds) to get to his field. When he was on his approach and… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 26, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95121. 1.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 941 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453697&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 469 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453698&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.