- Date
- December 14, 2019, 08:45 local (15:45 UTC)
- Place
- Las Cruces, NM
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N2224HHead AX8 88B
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 17, 2020
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- FAA report
- 20191214021439A
- Case key
- 100735
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 burner flameout, which resulted in the pilot's inability to arrest the balloon’s descent and its subsequent impact with power lines as he was trying to relight the burner.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that, just after lifting off in the balloon, one of his passengers dropped to the bottom of the basket because he was afraid. After about 15 minutes of trying to get the passenger to relax, the pilot began looking for a place to land the balloon. The balloon was about 75 ft above ground level when the burner flamed out. While trying to relight the burner with a striker, the balloon descended and struck power lines, which severed four of the eight suspension cables attached to the basket. The balloon then impacted a building. According to the pilot, the burner had a history of flameouts, and he had experienced it many times. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that just after lifting off in the balloon, one of his passengers dropped to the bottom of the basket in fear. After about fifteen minutes of trying to get the passenger to relax, the pilot began looking for a place to land the balloon. The balloon was about 75 ft above ground level (agl) when the burner flamed out. While trying to relight the burner, the balloon descended and struck power transmission lines, severing four of the eight suspension cables attached to the basket. According to the pilot, the Adams burners have a history of flame outs, and he has experienced it many times. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the hot air balloon that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2224H
- Reported as
- Head AX8 88B
- Category
- Balloon
- Serial number
- 351
- Built
- 2006
- Airframe hours
- 300
- Engine
- none
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Balloon
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 5, 2019
- Departed
- LRU · Las Cruces, NM
- Destination
- LRU · Las Cruces, NM
- Equipment
- None
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 59
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- None
- Flight hours
- 287.5 total · 282.5 in this make and model · 287.5 as pilot in command · 5.5 in the last 90 days · 2.5 in the last 30 days · 0.5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 55 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.97 inHg
- Observed at
- KLRU
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 26, 2020, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.3 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.