Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
Homestead General Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Homestead, Florida 33030
Saturday, March 16, 2013 10:00 EDT
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
According to the pilot, the sightseeing flight was at an altitude of about 1,000 feet above ground level. However, the passengers said that during the last mile of the flight, the basket brushed the tree tops, and impacted a power line. An eyewitness’s photograph showed the balloon at a low altitude over a nearby farm field. The pilot stated that he was aware of and knew where the power lines were and both passengers stated that the ground crew warned him of the approaching power lines over the radio. The pilot reported that the balloon encountered a downdraft that resulted in the balloon's basket contacting the power line.
A review of several nearby recorded weather observations did not reveal any indication of any abrupt wind changes or formation of any adverse weather conditions. A high-resolution weather observation at the intended landing destination, which was about 1 mile from the accident site indicated a light and variable wind was present. Based on this recorded information, at the time of the accident, it is unlikely that a downdraft or other adverse weather conditions existed at or around the time of the accident.
It is probable that the pilot, who was aware of the power lines, did not maintain adequate vigilance and failed to recognize the impending collision with the power lines.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
The pilot’s failure to maintain sufficient altitude to avoid obstructions during the approach to land, which resulted in a collision with power lines.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 3/16/2013 |
| Event Day of the Week | Saturday |
| Time of Event | 1000 |
| Event Time Zone | Eastern Daylight Time |
| Event City | Homestead |
| Event State | FLORIDA |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 33030 |
| Event Date Year | 2013 |
| Event Date Month | 3 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | 252903N |
| Event Location Longitude | 0803202W |
| Event Location Airport | Homestead General |
| Event Location Nearest Airport ID | X51 |
| Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport | Off Airport/Airstrip |
| Distance from airport in statute miles | 1 |
| Degrees magnetic from airport | -- |
| Airport Elevation | 7 |
| Weather Briefing Completeness | -- |
| Investigator's weather source | Weather Observation Facility |
| Time of the weather observation | 958 Eastern Daylight Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | 90 |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | X51 |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 6 |
| 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) | 19 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | 12 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | 40 |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Wind direction could be determined |
| Wind Speed (knots) | 4 |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | -- |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Not Gusting |
| Wind Gust (knots) | -- |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | 30.21 |
| 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 | -- |
| Injury Total None | 1 |
| Injury Total Serious | 2 |
| Injury Total All | 2 |
| Investigating Agency | NTSB |
| NTSB Docket Number (internal use) | 31494 |
| NTSB Notification Source | Law Enforcement |
| NTSB Notification Date | -- |
| NTSB Notification Time | -- |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Jun 19 2013 3:48PM |
| User who most recently changed record | kenj |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | -- |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N4019A |
| NTSB Number | ERA13LA169 |
| 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 | In-flight |
| Aircraft Explosion | In-flight |
| Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name | CAMERON BALLOONS US |
| Aircraft Model | Z-105 |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | -- |
| Aircraft Serial Number | 6473 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | 2100 |
| Aircraft Category | Balloon |
| Aircraft Registration Class | -- |
| Aircraft is a homebuilt? | No |
| Flight Crew Seats | 1 |
| Cabin Crew Seats | -- |
| Passenger Seats | 3 |
| Total number of seats on the aircraft | 4 |
| Number of Engines | 0 |
| Fixed gear or retractable gear | Fixed |
| Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection | Continuous Airworthiness |
| Date of Last Inspection | Jan 30 2012 12:00AM |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | -- |
| Airframe Hours | 210 |
| ELT Installed | No |
| ELT Activated | No |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | No |
| ELT Type | -- |
| Aircraft Owner Name | AARONS BALLOON CO LLC |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | 10840 SW 124TH ST |
| Aircraft Owner City | MIAMI |
| Aircraft Owner State | FL |
| Aircraft Owner Country | USA |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 33176-4639 |
| Operator is an individual? | No |
| Operator Name | AARONS BALLOON CO LLC |
| Operator Same as Owner? | Yes |
| Operator Is Doing Business As | -- |
| Operator Address Same as Owner? | Yes |
| Operator Street Address | 10840 SW 124TH ST |
| Operator City | MIAMI |
| Operator State | FL |
| Operator Country | USA |
| Operator Zip code | 33176-4639 |
| 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 | Redland |
| Departure State | FL |
| Departure Country | USA |
| Departure Time | 830 |
| Departure Time Zone | EDT |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | -- |
| Destination Airport Code | X51 |
| Destination City | Homestead |
| Destination State | FL |
| Destination Country | USA |
| Specific Phase of Flight | -- |
| Report sent to ICAO? | -- |
| Evacuation occurred | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Jun 19 2013 3:48PM |
| User who most recently changed record | kenj |
| Since inspection or accident | Last Inspection |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | N/A |
| Runway Length | -- |
| Runway Width | -- |
| Sight Seeing flight | Yes |
| Air Medical Flight | No |
| Medical Flight | -- |