- Date
- February 24, 1985, 17:15 local (Feb 25, 1985, 00:15 UTC)
- Place
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Injuries
- 7 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N3608CBarnes FF-8-24
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19850224006049A
- Case key
- 24661
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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.
On ground/water collision with object
Object - wire,transmissionCause
Weather condition - gustsFactor
In-flight planning/decision - improperCause
Wind information - misjudgedCause
Performance data - selectedCause
Planned approach - poorCause
Analysis
On landing the balloon touched down short of the desired landing area. The pilot heated slightly in order to proceed to smooth field. A strong gust picked up the balloon and took it into power lines which arced and the balloon caught fire. The pilot stated that the winds were 4 knots gusting to 20 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3608C
- Reported as
- Barnes FF-8-24
- Category
- Balloon
- Serial number
- 838
- Airframe hours
- 234
- Engine
- unknown
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Percy C. Davies
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 4, 1985 · 38 hours before
- Destination
- Unk
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Flight hours
- 197 total · 197 in this make and model · 154 as pilot in command · 50 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 275° at 4 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility
- 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.