ANTHONY, NM, USA
N2571F
Balloon Works FIREFLY F-15
Following landing, and prior to the balloon being secured to the ground, the pilot shut down the burner and the passengers egressed from the basket contrary to the pilot's instructions, which were to stay in the basket until she told them to exit. As a result of the decrease in weight, the balloon lifted off and drifted into power lines. Because the burner was shut down, the pilot had no control in the vertical plane.
On April 9, 2000, at 0815 mountain daylight time, a Balloon Works Firefly F-15, N2571F, sustained substantial damage at Anthony, New Mexico, when it drifted into power lines following landing. The private pilot and her two passengers were not injured. The flight was operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. According to the pilot, the passengers disregarded her instructions and exited the basket before the balloon was secured following landing. The burners had been shut down and the valves placed in the off position. The pilot said that when the passengers disembarked, the decrease in weight caused the balloon to rise and it drifted into nearby power lines. The lines arced and caused fire damage to the envelope. The pilot remained in the basket until it came to rest.
Failure by the pilot to keep the burner operating until the balloon was secured. A factor was the passengers disregarding the instructions they had been given by the pilot.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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