PHOENIX, AZ, USA
N1527F
BALLOON WORKS FIREFLY
THE PILOT WAS LANDING IN A VACANT LOT WHEN THE LIGHT AND VARIABLE WIND SHIFTED AND STARTED BLOWING THE BALLOON TOWARD POWERLINES. JUST PRIOR TO THE WIND SHIFT, THE BALLOON WAS DESCENDING RAPIDLY. RATHER THAN MAKE A HARD LANDING, THE PILOT TRIED TO "BURN" HIS WAY OUT, BUT WAS UNABLE TO CLIMB FAST ENOUGH TO MISS THE WIRES. AFTER CONTACTING THE WIRES, THE SUSPENSION CABLES FROM THE BASKET TO THE ENVELOPE WERE BURNED IN TWO. THE BASKET AND OCCUPANTS FELL ABOUT 14 FT TO THE GROUND. ALSO, A POWERLINE WAS SEVERED BY ARCING.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
