Texas Hot Air Balloon Crash
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Rockytop, Tennessee, USA
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From the NTSB report submitted at today's board meeting:
https://www.ntsb.gov/news/events/Doc...G-abstract.pdf
Findings
1. Postaccident examination of the balloon and its components found no evidence of any preimpact structural or system failures that would have precluded normal operation.
2. Although earlier forecasts, observations, and conditions present at the launch site indicated VFR weather, sufficient information was available (observed fog and a temperature dew point spread of 1o C) to anticipate that conditions might deteriorate. Thus, the pilot’s failure to obtain updated weather information denied him information that indicated conditions were deteriorating and might not remain VFR, which resulted in his decision to launch when he should have cancelled.
3. The pilot exhibited poor decision-making (1) when he did not land the balloon despite having had suitable opportunities to land safely in visual conditions and (2) when he decided to climb above the clouds.
4. The pilot’s decision to land in reduced visibility conditions that diminished his ability to see and avoid obstacles resulted in the balloon impacting power lines that were obscured by low clouds and/or fog.
5. The balloon’s support cables struck power lines, causing separation of the basket from the envelope and burner assembly, the release of fuel, and the subsequent fire and ground impact.
6. The pilot was not under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs at the time of the accident, and his high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, chronic back pain, and fibromyalgia did not affect his performance. Further, although he was taking other drugs that may have been impairing, the prescribed medications that the pilot used to treat his high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and depression did not affect his performance.
7. Depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and the combined effects of multiple central nervous system-impairing drugs likely affected the pilot’s ability to make safe decisions.
8. The FAA’s exemption of balloon pilots from medical certification requirements eliminated the potential opportunity for (1) an aviation medical examiner to identify the pilot’s potentially impairing medical conditions and medications and/or (2) Federal Aviation Administration awareness of his history of drug- and alcohol-related offenses, which could have led to certificate action until satisfactorily resolved.
9. The FAA’s primary method of oversight—sampling balloon operators at festivals— does not effectively target the operations that pose the most significant safety risks to members of the public who choose to participate in commercial balloon sightseeing activities.
PROBABLE CAUSE
The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the pilot’s pattern of poor decision-making that led to the initial launch, continued flight in fog and above clouds, and descent near or through clouds that decreased the pilot’s ability to see and avoid obstacles. Contributing to the accident were (1) the pilot’s impairing medical conditions and medications and (2) the Federal Aviation Administration’s policy to not require a medical certificate for commercial balloon pilots.
1. Postaccident examination of the balloon and its components found no evidence of any preimpact structural or system failures that would have precluded normal operation.
2. Although earlier forecasts, observations, and conditions present at the launch site indicated VFR weather, sufficient information was available (observed fog and a temperature dew point spread of 1o C) to anticipate that conditions might deteriorate. Thus, the pilot’s failure to obtain updated weather information denied him information that indicated conditions were deteriorating and might not remain VFR, which resulted in his decision to launch when he should have cancelled.
3. The pilot exhibited poor decision-making (1) when he did not land the balloon despite having had suitable opportunities to land safely in visual conditions and (2) when he decided to climb above the clouds.
4. The pilot’s decision to land in reduced visibility conditions that diminished his ability to see and avoid obstacles resulted in the balloon impacting power lines that were obscured by low clouds and/or fog.
5. The balloon’s support cables struck power lines, causing separation of the basket from the envelope and burner assembly, the release of fuel, and the subsequent fire and ground impact.
6. The pilot was not under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs at the time of the accident, and his high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, chronic back pain, and fibromyalgia did not affect his performance. Further, although he was taking other drugs that may have been impairing, the prescribed medications that the pilot used to treat his high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and depression did not affect his performance.
7. Depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and the combined effects of multiple central nervous system-impairing drugs likely affected the pilot’s ability to make safe decisions.
8. The FAA’s exemption of balloon pilots from medical certification requirements eliminated the potential opportunity for (1) an aviation medical examiner to identify the pilot’s potentially impairing medical conditions and medications and/or (2) Federal Aviation Administration awareness of his history of drug- and alcohol-related offenses, which could have led to certificate action until satisfactorily resolved.
9. The FAA’s primary method of oversight—sampling balloon operators at festivals— does not effectively target the operations that pose the most significant safety risks to members of the public who choose to participate in commercial balloon sightseeing activities.
PROBABLE CAUSE
The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the pilot’s pattern of poor decision-making that led to the initial launch, continued flight in fog and above clouds, and descent near or through clouds that decreased the pilot’s ability to see and avoid obstacles. Contributing to the accident were (1) the pilot’s impairing medical conditions and medications and (2) the Federal Aviation Administration’s policy to not require a medical certificate for commercial balloon pilots.
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Rockytop, Tennessee, USA
Posts: 5,898
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
