Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Burlington, North Carolina 27215
Friday, May 13, 1994 18:52 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING FLIGHT THE PASSENGER INADVERTENTLY LEANED ON THE THROTTLE CONTROL HANDLE, SHUTTING OFF GAS TO THE BURNER. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO RELIGHT THE BURNER, AND A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE ADJACENT TO POWER LINES. THE ENVELOPE CONTACTED THE POWER LINES AND CAUGHT FIRE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

INADVERTENT BURNER CONTROL INTERFERENCE BY THE PASSENGER. A FACTOR WAS THE PRESENCE OF ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION WIRES AT THE FORCED LANDING SITE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/13/1994
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1852
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City BURLINGTON
Event State NORTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 27215
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1853 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 280
Weather Observation Facility ID GSO
Elevation of weather observation facility 926
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1158
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 13 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2000
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 11:10AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1511M
NTSB Number ATL94LA098
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BALLOON WORKS
Aircraft Model FIREFLY 7-B
Aircraft Series Identifier FIREFLY 7-
Aircraft Serial Number F7B-036
Certified Max Gross Weight 1050
Aircraft Category Balloon
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 0
Number of Engines --
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 4 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 5
Airframe Hours 262
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CARTER, WILLIAM A.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 905 HICKORY NUT CT.
Aircraft Owner City PLEASANT GARD
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 27313
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CARTER, WILLIAM A.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 905 HICKORY NUT CT.
Operator City PLEASANT GARDEN
Operator State NC
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 27313
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1830
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --