- Date
- May 23, 1998, 05:50 local (09:50 UTC)
- Place
- Strasburg, PA
- Injuries
- 2 serious, 6 minor, 3 uninjured
- Damage
- No damage
- Phase of flight
- Standing
- Aircraft
- N7165EAerostar S81A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Status
- Completed · report December 8, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19980523026879A
- Case key
- 39564
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
A fire of undetermined origin.
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 experienced a fire while preparing for takeoff. The pilot stated that after the accident, he shut off the balloon's propane tanks, and tried tightening all the propane fittings to prevent another fire. Examination of the balloon's fuel delivery and storage systems did not reveal the fire's fuel source.
Factual narrative
On May 23, 1998, at 0550 eastern daylight time, an Aerostar International, S81A, N7165E, experienced a flash fire, during preparation for takeoff from Smoketown Airport, Strasburg, Pennsylvania. Two passengers received serious injuries. The certificated commercial pilot and four passengers received minor injuries. The three remaining passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the commercial balloon ride being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
In a telephone interview, the pilot stated the accident occurred while warming the balloon for takeoff. He also stated that after the accident, he shut off the balloon's propane tanks and tried to tighten all the propane fittings to prevent another fire. He made no mention of finding any loose fittings.
At 0550, the Lancaster Airport, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, report calm winds. A witness at the launch site also reported the winds as calm.
On May 28, 1998, at Lancaster Balloonport, Inc., Lancaster, Pennsylvania, all three burners and all three propane tanks were examined under the supervision of a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector. According to the inspector's field notes, when the fuel system was pressurized only a "minor" leak was observed from one of manifolds and one of the burner's hose fittings. Two of the propane tank's spit valves expelled fuel when opened, and one of the tanks was approximately a half gallon low of propane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7165E
- Reported as
- Aerostar S81A
- Category
- Balloon
- Serial number
- S81A-3004
- Airframe hours
- 90
- Engine
- unknown
- Damage
- No damage
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 91
- Registered owner
- David W. Gaither
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 22, 1997 · 27 hours before
- Departed
- 37PA
- Airport
- 37PA · Smoketown
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 47
- Certificates
- Private, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 950 total · 930 as pilot in command · 17 in the last 90 days · 17 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 45 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- LNS, 10 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.