ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 166099
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| Date: | Friday 9 May 2014 |
| Time: | 19:40 |
| Type: | Eagle C-7 |
| Owner/operator: | Kirk Daniel T |
| Registration: | N3016Z |
| MSN: | EE207203 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2000 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Near Ruther Glen, Caroline County, Virginia -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Approach |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Doswell, VA |
| Doswell, VA | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
Witnesses to the accident reported observing the balloon approaching the landing zone from the south where another balloon had just landed. A video obtained from one of the witnesses showed that, as the balloon descended and approached the landing site, the pilot engaged the burner; however, shortly after, the balloon struck power lines, which resulted in a spark. Subsequently, the basket and a section of the balloon’s envelope caught fire. The balloon then began an accelerated climb and drifted out of the camera’s view. The wreckage was found about 6 miles north of the power lines. Examination of the wreckage revealed no preexisting mechanical anomalies with the balloon.
Federal Aviation Administration guidance on balloon flying states that, if there is an obstacle between the balloon and the landing site, the pilot should either give the obstacle appropriate clearance and drop in from altitude; reject the landing and look for another landing site; or fly a low approach to the obstacle, fly over the obstacle allowing plenty of room, and then land. It is likely that the pilot identified the power lines late in the approach and ignited the burner to climb but that insufficient time remained to clear the power lines.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s inadequate approach and his failure to maintain clearance from power lines, which resulted in a subsequent fire.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB
Location
Media:
1st, plane, 2nd, ferry, now this... Hot air balloon with at least 3 on board catches fire http://t.co/P2aRndrffb pic.twitter.com/cA1hrS9CBV"
— YX (@KeyXLock) May 10, 2014Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 10-May-2014 06:51 | Útila | Added |
| 10-May-2014 06:52 | harro | Updated [Operator, Total fatalities, Other fatalities, Embed code] |
| 10-May-2014 18:32 | gerard57 | Updated [Operator, Total fatalities, Other fatalities, Source, Embed code, Narrative] |
| 11-May-2014 07:23 | gerard57 | Updated [Total fatalities, Source, Narrative] |
| 11-May-2014 22:54 | Geno | Updated [Total fatalities, Nature, Source, Damage, Narrative] |
| 12-May-2014 21:56 | Geno | Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Phase, Destination airport, Source] |
| 21-May-2014 00:44 | Geno | Updated [Time, Location, Source, Narrative] |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:28 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 29-Nov-2017 14:23 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Operator, Other fatalities, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Embed code, Narrative] |
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