Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Masterson, Texas
Saturday, April 3, 1982 9:20 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AFTER MAKING WEATHER OBSERVATIONS AND OBTAINING A WEATHER BRIEFING, THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (IP) BRIEFED THE CHASE CREW OF THE EXPECTED NORTHERLY TRACK. THE IP AND STUDENT TOOK OFF AT 0705 CST AND ASCENDED TO 1200 TO 15000 FT AGL AND BEGAN TRACKING NORTH-NORTHWEST. AFTER SEVERAL ANTENNAS WERE NOTED DOWNWIND, AN ASCENT WAS MADE TO 3200 FT AGL AND THE BALLOON MOVED EASTERLY. AFTER DESCENDING, IT TRACKED DUE NORTH. THE BALLOON PROCEEDED INTO AN AREA OF UNFAVORABLE TERRAIN WITH NO EAST-WEST ROADS. ALSO, THE SKY CONDITION BECAME HAZY AND THE IP BELIEVED THE CHASE CREW WOULD HAVE DIFFICULTY FOLLOWING; THEREFORE, THEY CONTINUED FOR A RECOVERY NEAR A MAJOR ROAD. MEANWHILE, THE WIND PICKED UP TO 20 MPH. AT ABOUT 0920, A LANDING WAS MADE NEAR A HIGHWAY IN AN AREA COVERED WITH MESQUITE. DURING THE LANDING, CONTACT WAS MADE WITH SEVERAL OF THE MESQUITE, A FENCE, AND THE GROUND. THE ENVELOPE ALSO BRUSHED AGAINST A POWER LINE. THE STUDENT WAS INJURED DURING THE LANDING.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/3/1982
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 920
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City MASTERSON
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 4
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Unknown
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 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 3
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 51
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 20
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 Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 529
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
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 N1524U
NTSB Number FTW82DQG17
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Minor
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BALLOON WORKS
Aircraft Model 7-B
Aircraft Series Identifier 7-B
Aircraft Serial Number 10311
Certified Max Gross Weight 500
Aircraft Category Balloon
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 0
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours 43
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DON ELWELL, JR.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 7609 CERVIN
Aircraft Owner City AMARILLO
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 79121
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DON ELWELL, JR.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 7609 CERVIN
Operator City AMARILLO
Operator State TX
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 79121
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City AMARILLO
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 705
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City AMARILLO
Destination State TX
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:49PM
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 --