Kubicek BB85 N2469L

Summary

On 30 July 2016, a Kubicek BB85 registered N2469L, operated by Heart of Texas Hot Air Balloon Rides, was involved in an accident near Lockhart, Texas, United States. 16 people were on board and 16 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 July 2016

Classification

Accident

Location

Lockhart, Texas, United States

Coordinates

29.8000, -97.6000

Aircraft

Kubicek BB85

Registration

N2469L

Category

Balloon

Operator

Heart of Texas Hot Air Balloon Rides

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fentress → Fentress

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DCA16MA204

16 people died.

The pilot's pattern of poor decision-making that led to the initial launch, continued flight in fog and above clouds, and descent near or through clouds that decreased the pilot's ability to see and avoid obstacles. Contributing to the accident were (1) the pilot's impairing medical conditions and medications and (2) the Federal Aviation Administration's policy to not require a medical certificate for commercial balloon pilots.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The NTSB's full report is available at http://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/AccidentReports.aspx. The Aircraft Accident Report number is NTSB/AAR-17/03. On July 30, 2016, about 0742 central daylight time, a Balóny Kubícek BB85Z hot air balloon, N2469L, operated by Heart of Texas Hot Air Balloon Rides, struck power lines and crashed in a field near Lockhart, Texas. The pilot and 15 passengers died, and the balloon was destroyed by impact forces and postcrash fire. The balloon was owned and operated by the pilot, and the flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a sightseeing passenger flight. The flight originated about 0658, just after sunrise, from Fentress Airpark, Fentress, Texas.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.