Lindstrand LBL180A N49CD

Summary

On 17 February 2012 at about 16:15 local time, a Lindstrand LBL180A registered N49CD, operated by David Lee Bradley Productions Inc, was involved in an accident near Temecula, California, United States. 9 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 February 2012 at 16:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Temecula, California, United States

Nearest airport

French Valley Airport (F70)

Coordinates

33.5317, -117.0500

Aircraft

Lindstrand LBL180A

Registration

N49CD

Category

Balloon

Operator

David Lee Bradley Productions Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Temecula → Temecula

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR12CA173

Nobody was injured.

The pilot failed to see and avoid a set of power lines while maneuvering to a landing site.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot launched from a field with eight passengers for a commercial hot air balloon flight. He planned to conduct a 60-minute flight, followed by a landing at one of the operator's known landing areas. According to the pilot, about 50 minutes into the flight, he initiated an approach for landing at one of the planned locations,and, during the descent, he obtained an automated weather observation from an airport located about 6 miles to the northwest. During the approach, the pilot determined that the wind speed and direction would not permit a landing at his first intended site. He added heat, leveled out about 50 feet above ground level, and headed for a second landing site. As he neared that site, another pilot who had landed at that site advised him that the wind had increased, so he decided to continue to a third landing site. During the climb and transit to the third site, the balloon struck some electrical wires. The balloon remained entangled in the wires for a few seconds and then descended to the ground. A postaccident examination of the balloon revealed that 3 of the 12 cables between the basket and the envelope were severed, 3 cables under the basket were severed, and 14 fabric panels received various amounts of damage. The pilot stated that he had been subjected to "target fixation" on the third landing site, and did not see the power lines.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.