Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sierra Vista, Arizona 85635
Saturday, October 31, 1992 10:00 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE BALLOON WAS THE LAST TO DEPART THE PARK. UPON ARRIVAL AT THE DESTINATION SUBDIVISION THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED EXTENSIVE GUSTING WINDS. DURING THE INITIAL LANDING THE PILOT HAD TO LIFT OFF WHEN THE BALLOON PRECEDING IT ENCOUNTERED DIFFICULTY. THE WIND VELOCITY INCREASED IN INTENSITY. THE PILOT MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO LAND, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO DUE TO THE GUSTING WIND CONDITIONS. ON THE FINAL LANDING THE WINDS DRAGGED THE BALLOON ON TOUCH DOWN UNTIL IT COLLIDED WITH THE WIRES. THE REPORTED WIND AT AN ADJACENT AIRFIELD WAS FROM THE WEST AT 10 KNOTS GUSTING TO 19 KNOTS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FLIGHT'S ENCOUNTER WITH UNFORECAST UNFAVORABLE WINDS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/31/1992
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1000
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City SIERRA VISTA
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85635
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 10
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 958 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID FHU
Elevation of weather observation facility 4700
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3000
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) 45
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 19
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 682
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 31 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1125
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 48079
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:23PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N666TE
NTSB Number LAX93LA022
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Thunder and Colt
Aircraft Model AX7-77
Aircraft Series Identifier AX7-77
Aircraft Serial Number 1020
Certified Max Gross Weight 1694
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 --
Number of Engines 0
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 7 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 6
Airframe Hours 193
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JACQUEMIN, PATRICIA C.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 7300 DREAMY DRAW DR. #123
Aircraft Owner City PHOENIX
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85020
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JACQUEMIN, PATRICIA C.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 7300 DREAMY DRAW DR. #123
Operator City PHOENIX
Operator State AZ
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 85020
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 855
Departure Time Zone MST
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 10:35AM
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 --