Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Winslow, Maine
Tuesady, July 20, 1982 7:20 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE DESCENDING TO LAND IN AN OPEN FIELD, THE BALLOON BEGAN DRIFTING TOWARDS HIGH POWERLINES. IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID A COLLISION, THE PILOT FIRED THE BURNER APPROXIMATELY NINE TIMES, USING SHORT BLASTS OF THE BURNER. THE BALLOON FAILED TO GAIN ALTITUDE AND PRIOR TO CONTACTING THE POWERLINES, THE PILOT INSTRUCTED ONE OF THE PASSENGERS TO PULL THE RIP LINE. THE RIP CORD, WHEN PULLED, RELEASES THE HOT GASES FROM THE ENVELOPE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/20/1982
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 720
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City WINSLOW
Event State MAINE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 7
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 Unknown
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 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
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) 65
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 0
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 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2035
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 N4041P
NTSB Number NYC82FNC11
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 and In-flight
Aircraft Explosion Ground and In-flight
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name FIREFLY
Aircraft Model 7
Aircraft Series Identifier 7
Aircraft Serial Number 7844
Certified Max Gross Weight 900
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 5
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 5
Airframe Hours 23
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WIND RIDERS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 6 RIVERSIDE AVE.
Aircraft Owner City WATERVILLE
Aircraft Owner State ME
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 04901
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name WIND RIDERS
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 6 RIVERSIDE AVE.
Operator City WATERVILLE
Operator State ME
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 04901
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 Unknown
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City WINSLOW
Departure State ME
Departure Country
Departure Time 645
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City WINSLOW
Destination State ME
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:50PM
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 --