- Date
- July 17, 1985, 19:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place
- Gorham, ME
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 3 uninjured
- Damage
- No damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N15314Barnes AX7
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19850717036379A
- Case key
- 35619
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.
Loss of control - on ground/water
Terrain condition - open field
Wind information - inaccurateFactor
Lack of familiarity with geographic areaFactor
Weather condition - unfavorable windCause
Wind information - not understoodCause
Light condition - daylight
Analysis
The pilot took off with three passengers in a hot air balloon. There was an unforecast wind change with an increase in velocity. This change in wind direction and velocity precluded the ability to make a landing and keep the basket upright. When the basket tipped over the pilot received a broken leg. The three passengers were uninjured.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N15314
- Reported as
- Barnes AX7
- Category
- Balloon
- Serial number
- A7137
- Airframe hours
- 280
- Engine
- None NONE, unknown
- Damage
- No damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Marlene Handcock
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 15, 1985 · 0 hours before
- Departed
- S. Windham, ME
- Destination
- Gorham, ME
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 35
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Flight hours
- 107 total · 7 in this make and model · 80 as pilot in command · 7 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 135° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- AUG, 48 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.