ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 78539
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| Date: | Wednesday 29 September 2010 |
| Time: | 06:06 |
| Type: | Wörner NL-1000/STU |
| Owner/operator: | Peak Express Balloon Inc |
| Registration: | N801NM |
| MSN: | 1071 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 196 hours |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Adriatic coast -
 Italy
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Demo/Airshow/Display |
| Departure airport: | Bristol, |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The balloon race crew was participating in a cross-continent race in Europe. Despite the advice and counsel of a renowned meteorologist who specialized in balloon-race route planning, the crew chose a route of flight where thunderstorms and other adverse weather phenomenon were predicted. Communications transcripts from Italian air traffic control revealed that, in the last moments of the flight, the crew reported thunder and lightning in the vicinity of the balloon, that they were losing altitude due to the snow, and ultimately stated that they were descending very fast towards the sea. The Prosecutor's Office in the Court of Lucia, Italy, claimed jurisdiction over the wreckage and the crew's remains and appointed a technical advisor to conduct an investigation. His examination of the envelope revealed thermal damage in the lower half of the envelope consistent with a lightning strike. Further examination revealed shredding in the lower half, and slices in the upper half consistent with a hydrogen detonation. The basket was deformed by impact damage, but displayed no evidence of thermal damage.
Probable Cause: The crew's intentional flight into known adverse weather conditions, which resulted in destruction of the balloon envelope by lightning strike and the subsequent uncontrolled descent to the sea.
Sources:
NTSB
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 29-Sep-2010 09:18 | saf7670 | Added |
| 29-Sep-2010 10:40 | Geno | Updated [Registration, Cn, Source] |
| 29-Sep-2010 10:41 | harro | Updated [Aircraft type] |
| 30-Sep-2010 02:45 | Geno | Updated [Registration, Cn, Operator, Departure airport, Source] |
| 30-Sep-2010 13:23 | angels one five | Updated [Location, Narrative] |
| 06-Dec-2010 08:49 | gerard57 | Updated [Source, Damage, Narrative] |
| 17-Jan-2011 02:34 | Anon. | Updated [Narrative] |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:25 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 26-Nov-2017 18:10 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Operator, Other fatalities, Nature, Departure airport, Source, Narrative] |
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