Accident Summary
On July 15, 2021, at approximately 1945 eastern daylight time, a Cameron Balloons 0-105, registration N2925L, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Piermont, New Hampshire. The pilot was fatally injured, one passenger received minor injuries, and three passengers were not injured. The balloon was being operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 commercial sightseeing flight.
Sequence of Events
The balloon departed Post Mills Airport (2B9) in Post Mills, Vermont, around 1830 with the pilot and four passengers on board. It flew northeast along the Connecticut River toward Bradford, Vermont. After about 45 minutes aloft, the pilot reported that the pilot light on the burner had extinguished. He changed the propane tank but could not locate the striker to relight the burner. The balloon began to descend while the pilot searched the basket for the striker. He eventually found the backup striker in a supply pocket several minutes later. By then, the balloon had descended close to the ground. The pilot re-lit the pilot light, but was unable to make the balloon climb before it impacted a field.
Post-Impact and Rescue
Upon impact, the pilot and one passenger were thrown from the basket. The balloon then started to rise, and the pilot's foot became trapped between the balloon attach rope and the basket frame. The pilot freed his foot but remained hanging below the basket for an estimated 1.25 miles before falling to a field near the Connecticut River. The remaining passengers contacted ground support personnel via a handheld radio and received instructions on how to operate the balloon controls for landing. The balloon traveled about 3.45 miles from the ejection site before landing in trees.
Pilot Information
The 72-year-old pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with a rating for lighter-than-air balloon and private privileges for airplane single-engine land. He also held a repairman certificate for hot air balloon and airship. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records showed his most recent third-class medical certificate was issued on May 25, 1993, at which time he reported 4,500 total flight hours. The pilot's logbook was not recovered.
Aircraft Information
FAA records indicated the registration matched a Cameron balloon manufactured in 1984. However, the pilot had modified the balloon such that no component was originally manufactured by Cameron at the time of the accident. After recovery, examination revealed the basket and burner were originally manufactured by Galaxy Balloons and modified by the pilot, the propane tanks were manufactured by Worthington, and the envelope was built by the pilot. The basket, propane tanks, and burner operated normally during testing; the burner's pilot light lighted without difficulty. The envelope showed no preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Aircraft logbooks were not recovered.
Toxicological Testing
Toxicological testing of the pilot revealed metoprolol, a beta blocker used to reduce blood pressure, in blood and urine.