PLT AND PAX ABOARD HOT AIR BALLOON STRIKE PWR LINES ON LNDG APCH.
Synopsis
PLT AND PAX ABOARD HOT AIR BALLOON STRIKE PWR LINES ON LNDG APCH.
Narrative
IN PREPARATION FOR A MORNING FLT ON SEP/SAT/05; I CALLED THE FSS IN MCALLISTER; OK; TO GET A WX BRIEFING. THE BRIEFING INDICATED CONDITIONS WERE GOOD FOR MORNING FLTS. AFTER MEETING THE CREW AND PAX; WE PROCEEDED TO LAUNCH SITE. THE INFLATION AND LIFTOFF WERE UNEVENTFUL WITH WINDS OF ABOUT 5 MPH. THE FLT PROCEEDED FOR ABOUT 45 MINS IN A NORTHERLY DIRECTION AT AN ALT OF ABOUT 1800 FT AGL. AT ABOUT XA30; I CONTACTED MY GND CREW AS TO WIND CONDITIONS ON THE SURFACE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE WIND CONDITIONS HAD PICKED UP TO APPROX 10-12 MPH. I PROCEEDED TO DSND IN PREPARATION FOR LNDG IN AN OPEN FIELD. ALL PAX HAD BEEN BRIEFED ON PROPER PRE LNDG PROCS. I OBSERVED THERE WERE PWR LINES RUNNING N/S ALONG THE E SIDE OF THE SITE. I DID NOT OBSERVE ANY E/W PWR LINES. THERE WAS A ROW OF TREES RUNNING E ALONG A PROPERTY LINE AT THE S END. THESE TREES POSED THE LAST OBSERVED OBSTACLE TO MY LNDG IN THE FIELD. AS I DSNDED OVER THE TREE LINE; I OBSERVED A LINE OF PWR LINES RUNNING E ON THE N SIDE OF THE TREES. I ADDED HEAT TO ARREST MY DSCNT. I WAS TOO CLOSE AND MOVING TOO FAST. I WAS UNABLE TO GAIN ALT TO AVOID STRIKING THE PWR LINES. THE LOWER PART OF THE BASKET CAUGHT ON THE TOP 2 PWR LINES. THE PWR LINES STRETCHED OUT ABOUT 5 FT CAUSING THE BASKET TO TILT AT ABOUT 60 DEGS. AT THIS POINT THE BASKET SLIPPED OFF THE PWR LINES. I HEARD A POPPING SOUND AS THOUGH THE PWR LINES HAD HIT EACH OTHER AFTER RELEASING THE BASKET. THE BASKET PROCEEDED TO BRUSH THROUGH ANOTHER TREE. I HAD INTENDED TO USE THIS TREE TO SLOW MY FORWARD MOTION. AFTER SLIPPING THROUGH THE TREE; I VENTED HEAT FROM THE BALLOON AND LANDED IN THE FIELD WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. PAX NOR CREW INCURRED ANY INJURIES. THE GND CREW ARRIVED. WE PACKED UP AND LEFT THE LOCATION.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.