Cameron CIGPACK-80 N4535W

Summary

On 14 August 1996 at about 12:25 local time, a Cameron CIGPACK-80 registered N4535W was involved in an accident near Columbia, Missouri, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 August 1996 at 12:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Columbia, Missouri, United States

Coordinates

38.9502, -92.3192

Aircraft

Cameron CIGPACK-80

Registration

N4535W

Category

Balloon

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI96LA294

2 people were seriously injured.

failure of the pilot to see-and-avoid transmission (power) lines during the landing. Factors relating to the accident were: vegetation and trees, which obscured the pilot's view of the power lines.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The basket on a balloon was destroyed by fire when it contacted power lines during landing. The poles and wires were reported as difficult to see due to trees and vegetation. Two witnesses reported that the pilot was talking with ground crew personnel, and was facing opposite of the direction that the balloon was traveling, just prior to the accident. The electric company had given out maps to the pilots, showing the locations of the power lines in the area.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.