Cameron Balloons V-77 N7524J

Summary

On 8 February 2009 at about 22:30 local time, a Cameron Balloons V-77 registered N7524J was involved in an accident near Terre Haute, Indiana, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 February 2009 at 22:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Terre Haute, Indiana, United States

Nearest airport

Terre Haute International Airp (HUF)

Coordinates

39.4514, -87.3075

Aircraft

Cameron Balloons V-77

Registration

N7524J

Category

Balloon

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Terre Haute → Terre Haute

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN09CA162

1 person had minor injuries.

The loss of the burner pilot light during approach to the landing area and the pilot's failure to relight the burner using alternate sources.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The balloon pilot and passenger departed on a personal flight and flew for 30-40 minutes, during which the pilot performed a simulated "pilot light failure" emergency procedure. The pilot performed the simulation so as to "teach" the passenger the procedure. The pilot light was reportedly not extinguished during or after the simulation. Following the simulation, the pilot began a stair-step climb for the approach to a landing area during which the pilot light extinguished at the last stop of the climb. The pilot said he had three sources of ignition aboard: a flint spark provided by the balloon manufacturer, a grill lighter, and a wind proof grill lighter. He could not relight the pilot light after three attempts, and also attempted to light fuel from the whisper and blast valves. The pilot stated that fuel emanated from these valves during the relight attempts. There was about 25 gallons of fuel remaining at the time of the accident. The pilot then pulled the "red line or deflation line" to deflate the balloon. The balloon descended into 180-foot-high power lines and caught fire, which consumed the basket and envelope. The pilot was uninjured and the passenger received minor injuries. The pilot accumulated a total flight time of 30 hours in lighter-than-air aircraft, of which 15 hours were in the accident make and model. He last performed a "pilot light failure" emergency procedure about 5 months prior to the accident flight.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.