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April 3, 1982 · Balloon Works 7-B · N1524U

Masterson, TX

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 3, 1982
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury)
Location
Masterson, TX
Aircraft
Balloon Works 7-B
Tail Number
N1524U
Operator
Don Elwell Jr
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Minor
NTSB Number
FTW82DQG17

After making weather observations and obtaining a weather briefing, the instructor pilot (IP) briefed the chase crew of the expected northerly track. The IP and student took off at 0705 CST and ascended to 1200 to 15000 ft AGL and began tracking north-northwest. After several antennas were noted downwind, an ascent was made to 3200 ft AGL and the balloon moved easterly. After descending, it tracked due north. The balloon proceeded into an area of unfavorable terrain with no east-west roads. Also, the sky condition became hazy and the IP believed the chase crew would have difficulty following; therefore, they continued for a recovery near a major road. Meanwhile, the wind picked up to 20 mph. At about 0920, a landing was made near a highway in an area covered with mesquite. During the landing, contact was made with several of the mesquite, a fence, and the ground. The envelope also brushed against a power line. The student was injured during the landing.

Full Narrative

AFTER MAKING WEATHER OBSERVATIONS AND OBTAINING A WEATHER BRIEFING, THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (IP) BRIEFED THE CHASE CREW OF THE EXPECTED NORTHERLY TRACK. THE IP AND STUDENT TOOK OFF AT 0705 CST AND ASCENDED TO 1200 TO 15000 FT AGL AND BEGAN TRACKING NORTH-NORTHWEST. AFTER SEVERAL ANTENNAS WERE NOTED DOWNWIND, AN ASCENT WAS MADE TO 3200 FT AGL AND THE BALLOON MOVED EASTERLY. AFTER DESCENDING, IT TRACKED DUE NORTH. THE BALLOON PROCEEDED INTO AN AREA OF UNFAVORABLE TERRAIN WITH NO EAST-WEST ROADS. ALSO, THE SKY CONDITION BECAME HAZY AND THE IP BELIEVED THE CHASE CREW WOULD HAVE DIFFICULTY FOLLOWING; THEREFORE, THEY CONTINUED FOR A RECOVERY NEAR A MAJOR ROAD. MEANWHILE, THE WIND PICKED UP TO 20 MPH. AT ABOUT 0920, A LANDING WAS MADE NEAR A HIGHWAY IN AN AREA COVERED WITH MESQUITE. DURING THE LANDING, CONTACT WAS MADE WITH SEVERAL OF THE MESQUITE, A FENCE, AND THE GROUND. THE ENVELOPE ALSO BRUSHED AGAINST A POWER LINE. THE STUDENT WAS INJURED DURING THE LANDING.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:20 CST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBalloon Works 7-B
Tail NumberN1524U
Aircraft CategoryBall
DamageMinor
OperatorDon Elwell Jr
Operating RulePart 91
Engines0
Engine TypeUnknown
Engine DetailsUnknown
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 37 · Unknown

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind360° @ 20 kt
Visibility3 sm
CeilingOvercast 25000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point12 C / 0 C
Altimeter0

Appendix: Source Data