Thunder and Colt AA-1050 G-BSRJ

Summary

On 4 October 2004 at about 10:30 local time, a Thunder and Colt AA-1050 registered G-BSRJ was involved in an accident near Crescent, Oklahoma, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 October 2004 at 10:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Crescent, Oklahoma, United States

Coordinates

35.8533, -97.5675

Aircraft

Thunder and Colt AA-1050

Registration

G-BSRJ

Category

Balloon

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Air Race/Show

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Albuquerque → Crescent

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

FTW05CA002

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the high power transmission lines. Contributing factor was the dark night and high wind conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The 4,408-hour lighter-than-air pilot reported that upon landing in an open field during dark night visual conditions, the envelope of the hot air balloon struck a set of power lines. The pilot stated that during the approach to landing, his pilot rated observer used night vision goggles to examine the landing area for objects and did not see the power lines. The pilot added that the prior to landing, the wind changed direction from 080 degrees to 165 degrees and increased to approximately 13 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.