GAA20CA037

The pilot reported that, during approach in a balloon, he flew over a line of trees and noticed power lines. He told his 12 passengers to "get down," and he turned off the propane tanks in the basket in anticipation of the baskets contacting the power lines. To avoid power line contact with the balloon's support cables, the pilot activated the burners on the opposite side of the expected contact point, hoping the balloon would ascend. The balloon contacted the power lines just above the leather bolster, "causing a huge explosion." The power lines cut through the support cables in the pilot compartment. The balloon began to ascend away from the power lines, and the pilot maneuvered to a parking lot and descended to land. During the descent, the balloon's basket caught fire. The pilot landed on the asphalt parking lot surface, and the passengers exited the basket. The pilot rapidly deflated the envelope and attempted to extinguish the fire. The balloon sustained substantial damage to the support cables and the basket. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation.

The balloon pilot reported that, during approach, he flew over a line of trees and noticed powerline wires. He told his 12 passengers to "get down," and he turned off the propane tanks in the basket, in anticipation of the baskets contact the powerline wires. In an effort to avoid powerline contact with the balloon's support cables, the pilot activated the burners on the opposite side of the expected contact point, in hopes of ascending. The balloon contacted the powerline wires just above the leather bolster, "causing a huge explosion." The powerline wires cut through the support cables in the pilot compartment. The balloon began to ascend away from the powerline wires, and the pilot maneuvered to a parking lot and descended to land. During descent, the balloon's basket caught fire. The pilot landed on the asphalt parking lot surface and the passengers exited the basket. The pilot rapidly deflated the envelope and the attempted to extinguish the fire. The balloon sustained substantial damage to the support cables and the basket. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation.