Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Phoenix, Arizona 85034
Saturday, March 26, 1988 9:20 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING A LOCAL FLIGHT IN A HOT AIR BALLOON, WHILE DESCENDING, THE DEFLATION LINE MALFUNCTIONED. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE RELEASE PULLEY HAD NO ROLLER AND THE ROPE WAS KNOTTED AND JAMMED IN THE PULLEY. THE VENT COULD NOT BE ACTIVATED IN THIS CONDITION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/26/1988
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 920
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City PHOENIX
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85034
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 3
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 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 954
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID PHX
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) 35
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
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 8
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 8
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 233
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 26 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1500
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 36099
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 11:37AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1601D
NTSB Number LAX88LA137
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 Avian
Aircraft Model MAGNUM IX
Aircraft Series Identifier MAGNUM IX
Aircraft Serial Number 136
Certified Max Gross Weight 2500
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 Aug 21 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 90
Airframe Hours 90
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AMERICAN HOT AIRLINES, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 13551 SW ELECTRIC
Aircraft Owner City BEAVERTON
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97005
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 5727 W. VILLA TERESA
Operator City GLENDALE
Operator State AZ
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 85308
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City PHOENIX
Departure State AZ
Departure Country
Departure Time 830
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 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --