Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Avra Valley, Arizona 97048
Friday, March 16, 2012 8:00 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that the balloon was traveling 5 to 7 knots west toward a road oriented north-south with a power line running along the east side of the road. Beyond the power line and road was a large area of open desert where the pilot planned to land. When the balloon was about 100 yards from the lines at an altitude of about 300 feet above ground level, the pilot began setting the balloon up for landing by cracking open the vent-top of the envelope. The pilot operated one of the two burners to compensate for the expected loss of lift from the partly open top; however, the balloon began a slow descent instead of maintaining altitude, and the descent rate seemed to accelerate. In response, the pilot operated both burners and looked up at the top of the balloon, which he found was over a third open instead of the expected 2- to 3-foot crack. Realizing that the balloon’s glidepath would now result in the basket impacting the upper wire of the power line, the pilot decided to fully open the top of the balloon and land short of the power line. The balloon descended and impacted the power line wires with the basket suspension cables contacting more than one wire, which resulted in electrical arcing. The envelope folded over the wires, and the basket came to rest on the ground. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented by initiating the set-up for landing only after crossing the last obstacle before the landing area.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper decision to partially open the balloon's vent before clearing a power line while landing, which resulted in the balloon descending too soon and contacting the power line.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/16/2012
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 800
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Avra Valley
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97048
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 322718N
Event Location Longitude 1111814W
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 --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 845 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 160
Weather Observation Facility ID RYN
Elevation of weather observation facility 2417
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 100
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.03
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 3
Injury Total None 6
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 31503
NTSB Notification Source FAA ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 24 2013 5:31PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N57194
NTSB Number WPR12LA138
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name RAVEN INDUSTRIES INC
Aircraft Model S-66A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number S66A-115
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Balloon
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Sep 27 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 336
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name NILZ PATRICK
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City TUCSON
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85705-5444
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name NILZ PATRICK
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City TUCSON
Operator State AZ
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 85705-5444
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Other Work Use
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code AVQ
Departure City Marana
Departure State AZ
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 645
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Avra Valley
Destination State AZ
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 24 2013 5:32PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight Yes
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --