Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Littleton, Colorado 80125
Saturday, February 3, 1990 9:30 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING AN APPROACH TO LANDING, THE BALLOON PILOT ESTIMATED THAT THE WIND HAD GROWN STRONGER THAN ANTICIPATED. HE SAID HE ATTEMPTED TO SPILL AIR TO INCREASE THE RATE OF DESCENT BY USE OF THE RED LINE, BUT IT SLIPPED THROUGH HIS GLOVED HAND. HE SAID THE BALLOON WAS CARRIED 300 FEET FARTHER THAN THE PLANNED TOUCHDOWN POINT, WHERE THE ENVELOPE DRAPED OVER POWER LINES. HE SAID THE WIRE CONTACT TORE A VERTICAL RIP SEVERAL FEET LONG IN THE ENVELOPE. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER EXITED THE GONDOLA WITHOUT INJURY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/3/1990
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 930
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City LITTLETON
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 80125
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 2
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 Full
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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) 437
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 3 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1030
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 41372
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N29675
NTSB Number DEN90LA048
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 None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CAMERON
Aircraft Model N105
Aircraft Series Identifier N105
Aircraft Serial Number 5064
Certified Max Gross Weight 2100
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MYLES A. PRYSBY
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 7722 KYLE WAY
Operator City LITTLETON
Operator State CO
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 80125
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 NONE
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 800
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code NONE
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 --