Head AX8 88B N2224H

Summary

On 14 December 2019 at about 15:45 local time, a Head AX8 88B registered N2224H was involved in an accident near Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 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

14 December 2019 at 15:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States

Coordinates

32.3169, -106.7747

Aircraft

Head AX8 88B

Registration

N2224H

Category

Balloon

Year built

2006

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Las Cruces → Las Cruces

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR20CA050

2 people had minor injuries.

A burner flameout, which resulted in the pilot's inability to arrest the balloon’s descent and its subsequent impact with power lines as he was trying to relight the burner. 

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, just after lifting off in the balloon, one of his passengers dropped to the bottom of the basket because he was afraid. After about 15 minutes of trying to get the passenger to relax, the pilot began looking for a place to land the balloon. The balloon was about 75 ft above ground level when the burner flamed out. While trying to relight the burner with a striker, the balloon descended and struck power lines, which severed four of the eight suspension cables attached to the basket. The balloon then impacted a building. According to the pilot, the burner had a history of flameouts, and he had experienced it many times. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.