# NTSB NYC03LA013: Avian Balloon Skyhawk, N71AV, Cottageville, WV, October 23, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 23, 2002, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Cottageville, WV - Coordinates: 38.866664, -81.814163 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8667&lon=-81.8142&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 55941 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC03LA013 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55941/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03LA013 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper decision not to over fly the landing area, which resulted in an in-flight collision with power lines. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, landing - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - object - wire,transmission ## Analysis As the balloon was positioned to land at a "selected-predicted" field, the pilot observed power lines in the decent path, and the elected to abort the landing. The pilot fired the main burner, and realized that the balloon would not climb above the power lines. Unable to deflate the balloon or stop the forward momentum, he ordered the passenger to jump from the basket. The pilot secured the fuel system and jumped to the ground. The balloon then struck and slid down the power lines, before descending to the ground. The landing field was about 600 feet in length, with a tree line at the approach end. About 120 feet beyond the tree line, were utility power lines and an electric fence. No obstacles were observed beyond the power lines for the remainder of the field along the balloons flight path. According to the Balloon Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-11), "It is usually better to fly over an obstacle and land beyond it than to land in front of it. Over fly powerlines, trees, and water, among other obstacles, on the way to the landing, rather than attempting to land in front of them and risk being dragged into them." ## Factual narrative On October 23, 2002, about 1700 eastern daylight time, a Avian Balloons, Skyhawk, N71AV, was not damaged when it collided with wires while landing near Cottageville, West Virginia. The certificated private pilot was seriously injured, while the passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to a statement the pilot provided to the West Virginia State Police, after a 20-minute flight, the pilot attempted to set down in a field while in sight of his chase crew. As the balloon was descending to the field, the pilot observed power lines in the decent path. Before striking the power lines, the pilot and passenger jumped from the balloon. The balloon struck the power lines and drifted away, before descending to the ground about 1,000 yards to the south. The pilot stated at a later date that he started an approach to land at a "selected-predicted" field along the flight path. As the balloon was positioned to land, a horse became agitated, and the pilot elected to abort the landing. As the pilot fired the main burner, he realized that the balloon would not climb above the power lines. Since he could not deflate the balloon or stop the forward momentum, he ordered the passenger to jump from the basket. The pilot secured the fuel system and jumped to the ground. The balloon then struck and slid down the power lines, before descending to the ground. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the landing site after the accident. He observed that the landing field was about 600 feet in length, with a tree line at the approach end. About 120 feet beyond the tree line, were utility power lines and an electric fence. No obstacles were observed beyond the power lines for the remainder of the field along the balloons flight path. According to the Balloon Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-11), "It is usually better to fly over an obstacle and land beyond it than to land in front of it. Over fly powerlines, trees, and water, among other obstacles, on the way to the landing, rather than attempting to land in front of them and risk being dragged into them." The pilot reported 108 hours of total flight experience in balloons. The recorded weather at a nearby airport, about the time of the accident, included winds from 100 degrees at 5 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N71AV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N71AV-2013-10-21), registration cancelled 2013-10-21, S/N 71, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Avian Balloon Skyhawk - Registry model: [Avian Balloon SKYHAWK](https://openairdocs.org/model/avian-balloon-skyhawk) (registry code 0900104) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 71 - Damage: No damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Delbert F. Bratcher - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: NONE, Cottageville, WV - Airport: NONE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: serious; private; last flight review October 27, 2000; flight hours: 108 total, 106 in this make and model, 98 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.31 inHg - Observed at: PKB, 22 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 20021023030349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021023030349A), Oct 23, 2002: Avianw SKYHAWK, Cottageville, WV, Minor damage. (.19) On October 23, 2002, about 1700 eastern daylight time, an avian balloons Skyhawk, N71AV, was not damaged when it collided with wires during a descent to… 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.