Lindstrand Balloons 60X N377LX

Summary

On 11 January 2022 at about 20:46 local time, a Lindstrand Balloons 60X registered N377LX, operated by Prestigious Promotions LLC, was involved in an accident near Louisville, Kentucky, United States. 2 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

11 January 2022 at 20:46

Classification

Accident

Location

Louisville, Kentucky, United States

Coordinates

38.2125, -85.5299

Aircraft

Lindstrand Balloons 60X

Registration

N377LX

Category

Balloon

Year built

2007

Operator

Prestigious Promotions LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Louisville → Louisville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA22LA129

Nobody was injured.

The pilot applicant’s delayed reaction to the balloon's increased rate of descent, which resulted in impact with a light pole.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During a descent to perform contour flying for a practical test, the pilot applicant vented the balloon. When it began to level off too high, he vented it again and the balloon began a descent he described as “faster than (he) expected.” The designated pilot examiner (DPE) called for a burn and the pilot applicant “gave a short burn” with one burner. The DPE, recognizing that the burn was insufficient to arrest the balloon’s descent, called for another burn while simultaneously grabbing the other burner. The balloon started to ascend and when the DPE realized that the basket was going to strike a light pole, he removed his hand from the burner and called for the pilot applicant to do the same; however, the pilot applicant did not remove his hand from the burner. When the basket impacted the pole, the load tapes sustained burn and heat damage. The DPE assumed control and flew them to an uneventful landing. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.