# NTSB SEA02LA122: Head Balloons AX8-88, N4522E, Victor, ID, July 5, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 5, 2002, 07:20 local (13:20 UTC) - Place: Victor, ID - Coordinates: 43.597499, -111.125556 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5975&lon=-111.1256&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 23, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Salt Lake City FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 55158 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA02LA122 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55158/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55158 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02LA122 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain altitude/clearance from the power lines during the landing resulting in the balloon's impacting the wires. Contributing factors were the power lines and strong winds existent at the time. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, landing - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor) - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot of the Head Balloon AX8-88 hot air balloon reported that about 20 minutes after departure he encountered increasing westerly winds of 10 mph and decided to select an alternate landing site. During the approach one of the passengers called "power lines." The pilot, who was already applying burner, was unable to clear the lines and about 5-10 seconds later the upper supports of the basket contacted the power lines. One of the three wires fell away and the pilot attempted to stabilize the balloon as it remained in contact with the two remaining lines. The basket then came to rest on a highway in an upright attitude. The aviation surface weather observation taken shortly after the accident at Idaho Falls and located 42 nautical miles west-southwest reported winds from 200 degrees magnetic at 11 knots with winds gradually increasing in strength during the morning. ## Factual narrative On July 5, 2002, approximately 0720 mountain daylight time, a Head Balloons, Inc. AX8-88, N4522E, registered to and being operated by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage when it impacted power lines while landing approximately one mile southwest of Victor, Idaho. The pilot and two passengers were uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions existed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was personal, was operated under 14 CFR 91, and originated from the Teton Springs Resort, Victor, Idaho, approximately 0700. The pilot reported that about 20 minutes after departure he encountered westerly winds of 10 mph increasing and selected an alternate landing site. During his approach one of the passengers called "power lines." The pilot was already applying burner however, about 5-10 seconds later the upper supports of the basket contacted the power lines. The pilot indicated that at this time there was a flash and one of the three wires fell away. He applied several more short bursts of burner in an attempt to hold in place and then secured the fuel shutting the burner down. The basket came to rest on a highway in an upright attitude (refer to Attachment GI-I) and all three occupants exited. The aviation surface weather observation taken at 0753 at Idaho Falls and located 42 nautical miles west-southwest reported winds from 200 degrees magnetic at 11 knots with winds gradually increasing in strength during the morning. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4522E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4522E), registered now, S/N 183 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Head Balloons, Inc. AX8-88 - Registry model: [Head Balloons AX8-88](https://openairdocs.org/model/head-balloons-ax8-88) (registry code 4280200) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 183 - Airframe hours: 233 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Miller, David O. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 22, 2001, 48 hours before - Departed: Victor, ID - Destination: Victor, ID ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 27, 2000; flight hours: 1,861 total, 374 in this make and model, 1,600 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: IDA, 42 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 20020705015209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020705015209A), Jul 5, 2002: Head AX888HEAD, Victor, ID, No damage. (.19) On July 5, 2002, approximately 0720 mountain daylight time, a Head balloons, inc. AX8-88, N4522E, registered to and being operated by a commercial pilot,… ## Other investigations on N4522E (1) 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. - [NTSB ERA23LA315](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA315), Jul 24, 2023: Head Balloons AX8-88 (N4522E), Guilford, CT, no damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate supervision of the boarding process and the ground crewmember’s failure to immediately let go of the balloon after it began an inadvertent climb. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 11, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55158. 1.5 MB in all. - Supplement S (item 1, .PDF, 37 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40178158&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20S-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 296 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461454&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Teton County Sheriff's Department Report (item 3, .PDF, 167 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461455&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Teton%20County%20Sheriff%27s%20Department%20Report-Master.PDF - Attachment GI-I (item 4, .PDF, 1 photo, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40178161&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Attachment%20GI-I-Master.PDF 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.