# NTSB SEA91IA159: Galaxy GLX-7, N5353A, Provo, UT, July 5, 1991

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: July 5, 1991, 07:50 local (13:50 UTC)
- Place: Provo, UT
- Coordinates: 40.309192, -111.710403 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3092&lon=-111.7104&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 5, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41347
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA91IA159
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41347/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA91IA159

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S DIVERTED ATTENTION.  FACOTRS INCLUDE ON GROUND CONTACT WITH A FENCE.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - fence (contributing factor)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT OF THE GALAXY GLX07 HOT AIR BALLOON IMPACTED A FENCE AFTER HE MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD. THE PILOT HAD BEEN TEMPORARILY DISTRACTED BY THE NEED TO RESECURE THE DEFLATION LINE TO THE BALLOON STRUCTURE, AND WHEN HE LOOKED UP HE SAW POWER LINES THAT HE WAS UNSURE THAT HE WOULD CLEAR. HE THEREFORE CHOSE TO EXECUTE THE PRESCAUTIONARY LANDING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N5353A (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: GALAXY GLX-7
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: 06
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Chemello, Dominic J.
- Registered owner: Chemello, Dominic J.

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 8,000 total, 50 in this make and model, 6,800 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point -0 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19910705039449I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910705039449I), Jul 5, 1991: Galaxy GALAXY7, Provo, UT, Minor damage. Landed balloon short of powerlines. Envelope pushed tree limbs onto powerlines. Envelope burned on burner.

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.

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