- Date
- April 2, 1987, 07:10 local (12:10 UTC)
- Place
- Ft. Lauderdale, FL
- Injuries
- 4 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N7321REagle C-7
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 5, 1988
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19870402060999A
- Case key
- 31756
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.
Analysis
The balloon struck powerlines while attempting to locate a suitable ldg site. The plt stated that a gust of wind blew the balloon into the wires & he was unable to climb to avoid the wires prior to impact. The surface winds were from the north at about 8 KTS & at 6000 ft out of the south at 5 KTS. The balloon had been traveling in a southerly direction prior to the accident & was drifting into the downtown area when the accident occurred. The acft flt manual requires that protective head gear be worn by all occupants during take off & ldg. None was wearing the head gear & none was found in the wreckage. At least one pax sustained burns to the top of the head.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7321R
- Reported as
- Eagle C-7
- Category
- Balloon
- Serial number
- E8
- Airframe hours
- 228
- Engine
- unknown
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- Both
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Rainbow Riders, Inc
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 4, 1986 · 29 hours before
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 40
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Flight hours
- 689 total · 25 in this make and model · 448 as pilot in command · 6 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 340° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 52 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- FLL, 3 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.