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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

January 12, 2002 · Raven S60A · N804DL

La Vernia, TX

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 12, 2002
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury), 6 uninjured
Location
La Vernia, TX
Aircraft
Raven S60A
Tail Number
N804DL
Operator
Incredible Journeys Balloon Rides
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Minor
NTSB Number
FTW02LA270

A hot air balloon collided with power lines during an approach to land in a vacant field. The 900-hour commercial pilot and five passengers were not injured. One passenger was seriously injured when she was struck and electrocuted by a severed power line.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's improper planning of the approach and failure to maintain clearance with the powerlines. A factor was the power lines.

Full Narrative

On January 12, 2002, approximately 0849 central standard time, a Raven S60A hot air balloon, N804DL, registered to the pilot, sustained minor damage when it collided with power lines while landing in a vacant field near La Vernia, Texas. The commercial pilot and five passengers were not injured. One passenger was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the sightseeing flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The local flight originated from the Zuehl Airport (1TE4) near Marion, Texas. According to the police report from the Wilson County Sheriff's Department, the pilot stated that the wind started blowing harder as he was attempting to land the balloon in an open field south of a residential subdivision. The pilot thought that he was in an alley with power lines running north and south, but at the last minute, noticed a row of power lines running east and west that were in his flight path. The pilot attempted to fly over the lines, but the balloon's basket collided with the power lines. One of the severed power lines struck and electrocuted a passenger. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the pilot had accrued a total of 900 hours of flight time, of which, 30 hours were in the same make and model of the hot hair balloon involved in the accident. At 0743, the aviation weather observing system at Stinson Municipal Airport (SSF), near San Antonio, Texas, approximately 15 nautical miles west from the site of the accident, reported wind from 290 degrees at 3 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, a clear sky, temperature 37 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 30 degrees Fahrenheit, and a barometric pressure setting of 30.24 inches of Mercury. This mishap was originally reported as an "incident," since the damage to the balloon was reported as minor and the injuries to the passenger were incorrectly reported as "minor." Approximately 31 months after the occurrence, the NTSB learned that the injuries to the passenger were "severe," and it has now become classified as an "accident."

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time08:49 CST
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledUnknown
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftRaven S60A
Tail NumberN804DL
Aircraft CategoryBall
DamageMinor
OperatorIncredible Journeys Balloon Rides
Operating RulePart 91
Engines0

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury), 6 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured6
Total7
Crew 1None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind290° @ 3 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point37 C / 30 C
Altimeter30.23 inHg
Observation Time13:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data