Texas Balloon Impact With HV Trans Lines
Based on the reported departure and crash locations and times, and KHYI METAR average surface winds and 3000’ winds aloft data over the total flight time, the crash site is around 8 SM from KHYI, the balloon traversed an approximate avg. course of 5 Deg.True, with the crash location around 29.8852, -97.7619.
The HV transmission lines noted by newspaper photographs appear that they could be 500-765 KV lines. Assuming the balloon was descending and the basket (or balloon) was nearing the noted HV power lines, the pilot may have been applying maximum burner heat input. But due to the total passenger and pilot weight (est. 3,200 lbs) plus the weight of basket, burners, etc. it was difficult to apply adequate heat input rate to change the lift rate adequately and therefore climb fast enough, and the basket contacted the power lines.
This very high voltage transmission line conductor(s) contact likely generated a phase to phase fault and therefore an enormous arc flash and initial fire. At transmission line voltages this high the arc flashcore can be 20,000-30,000 Deg. C. A conductive path to the propane/burner system could have generated temperatures high enough to melt propane tubing connectors, and therefore uncontrolled release of propane could have then also generated catastrophic fire escalation.
This crash appears tobe eerily similar to the Carleton, New Zealand January 2012 balloon crash inwhich 11 people lost their lives. That balloon incident as well contacted HV lines, but in that case 33 KV power lines. My thoughts and prayers to the loved ones of those who lost their lives.