Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sellersburg, Indiana 47172
Wednesday, June 6, 2012 20:50 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Passengers in the balloon reported that the balloon initially landed in an unmowed field that wasn't easily accessible by ground vehicles. They reported that the pilot decided to move the balloon to an adjacent field. The passengers noted that there was a fence and power lines that had to be crossed to get to the field. There were 3 lines on the power line poles, 2 of which were thinner and not as visible. The passengers reported that the balloon was traveling into the setting sun and that they believed the pilot only saw the lower, more visible power line. The passengers reported that when the balloon struck the power line a large arc ensued, and the pilot was thrown rearward into one of the passengers. The pilot was unconscious, and the passengers were able to deflate the balloon with verbal assistance from the ground crew. The pilot reported that he has no memory of the accident after the initial landing. Postaccident inspection of the balloon revealed no preimpact defects and minor damage.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The balloon pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/6/2012
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 2050
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Sellersburg
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 47172
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 382600N
Event Location Longitude 0855200W
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 2053 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID LOU
Elevation of weather observation facility 546
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
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) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 20
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.01
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report ##################################################
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 30188
NTSB Notification Source FAA-Indianapolis FSDO
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 1 2012 4:38PM
User who most recently changed record bowl
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N401DJ
NTSB Number CEN12CA347
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Minor
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CAMERON BALLOONS
Aircraft Model Z-90
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 6291
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 1
Number of Engines 0
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 2 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DALLAS JEWELERS INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City LOUISVILLE
Aircraft Owner State KY
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 40222-6465
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Dallas I. Beall III
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Louisville
Operator State KY
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 40222
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Memphis
Departure State IN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Sellersburg
Destination State IN
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 20 2012 5:34PM
User who most recently changed record brajo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight Yes
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --