TX: Lockhart hot air balloon with 16 on board burns and crashes - no survivors

[Keith B]

Is 16 people in a balloon basket common place? I didn't realize they carried that many.

Keith, what's your take on this? I too have never heard of a 16 passenger balloon. That sounds like blimp or dirigible capacity!

Chas.

There are larger ride balloons than this, but mostly overseas. It was a 300,000 cubic foot envelope (the balloon part). That is basically the volume of 300,000 soccer balls inside the balloon. Amount of lift is based on the size of the envelope, so the larger the envelope the more they can carry below in the basket. They can go up to as much as 750,000 cubic feet and carry 32 passengers. Here is a link to that balloon http://www.cameronballoons.co.uk/news/t ... de-balloon This was one of the bigger ones in the US. The balloon system was built by a company in the Czech Republic. They are STC'ed for flight here in the US.

Not sure of all details yet. I have a policy of not trying to speculate too much on cause until I know enough details to make an educated comment. Bottom line, it appears something caused the basket to catch on fire (power line strike or maybe a fuel leak) and the passengers all perished.

Prayers for all of the families and friends of those lost in this tragic accident.

[ELB]

So wife confirms that was the operator we were supposed to go with. Maybe not now.

Awful for everyone.

[Oldgringo]

It appears that power lines were intercepted by the balloon:

http://www.surenews.com/tragedy/tragedy ... -accident/

[Keith B]

From reports by the NTSB the basket separated from the balloon when it struck power lines. There is also now information that says there may have been low visibility encountered, which would have made it difficult to see the power lines.

The question now is if the pilot did a pre-flight check of weather with Flight Service or DUATS and was the forecast for MVFR or IFR conditions to occur in the area during or after launch time

[FL450]

There was a reported 45 min delay in launch.
not sure if due to vis but like Kieth B mentioned dont like to speculate but as a pilot power lines are hard to see in low vis.

[Pawpaw]

If the basket hit those high-power cross country power lines, it's likely they were all killed instantly.

Any way you slice it, this is a terrible tragedy.

[dlh]

Check out this article. It is quite alarming. I assume the Texas Department of Public Safety will conduct a blood/chemical profile of the balloon operator.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/07/31/nt ... ng-16.html

[Glockster]

Alarming that someone with any type of commercial pilot license can have two alcohol arrests and one arrest for distributing a controlled substance. I guess that I just assumed that things like that would preclude having that license. Silly me.

[JALLEN]

From reports by the NTSB the basket separated from the balloon when it struck power lines. There is also now information that says there may have been low visibility encountered, which would have made it difficult to see the power lines.

The question now is if the pilot did a pre-flight check of weather with Flight Service or DUATS and was the forecast for MVFR or IFR conditions to occur in the area during or after launch time

Where is the nearest airport?

Flight Service can only report what it gets from airports with weather observation, and what it picks up from satellites. I've taken off quite a few times in weather flight service deemed VFR, but once away from airports, anything goes. Localized haze or light fog wouldn't be noticed. That doesn't mean you fly into it, of course.

I've only been on balloons twice. It seems like you have to be well ahead of the present, like on a large ship where it takes time and distance to change your path.

[John Galt]

Where is the nearest airport?

Flight Service can only report what it gets from airports with weather observation, and what it picks up from satellites. I've taken off quite a few times in weather flight service deemed VFR, but once away from airports, anything goes. Localized haze or light fog wouldn't be noticed. That doesn't mean you fly into it, of course.

I've only been on balloons twice. It seems like you have to be well ahead of the present, like on a large ship where it takes time and distance to change your path.

You are correct.

[Greybeard]

Prayers for the friends and families.

While someone may want to check too, but by my rough calculations, they traveled that 8 miles in around 37 minutes. Approx 13 mph. Rather breezy in my opinion for a sunrise launch, knowing winds would likely increase as the morning heated up. And that kind of wind would tend to bust up most "summertime fog" near ground level, if there ever was any. And this time of year with 100 degree days, there is generally very good daylight and excellent visibility by 7:30 a.m. Time will tell what the pros determine .....

[WTR]

The FAA needs to be sued for granting this guy a license.

[Keith B]

Prayers for the friends and families.

While someone may want to check too, but by my rough calculations, they traveled that 8 miles in around 37 minutes. Approx 13 mph. Rather breezy in my opinion for a sunrise launch, knowing winds would likely increase as the morning heated up. And that kind of wind would tend to bust up most "summertime fog" near ground level, if there ever was any. And this time of year with 100 degree days, there is generally very good daylight and excellent visibility by 7:30 a.m. Time will tell what the pros determine .....

Winds aloft can be moving at 10+ a few hundred feet off the ground, and be totally calm on the surface. They may never get a breeze that moves down after the layer burns off. I flew a flight one time where I was doing 30kts at 300 feet AGL and the surface was only 5kts. Not uncommon in the plains states to have a nocturnal layer that dissipates a few hours after sunrise.

[philip964]

http://www.click2houston.com/news/hot-a ... adly-crash

Pilot had a history of close calls and prison.

Came to Texas to start over.

RIP poor folks, you probably had no idea a man who would be barred from getting a pilots license was flying you.

[rotor]

The FAA needs to be sued for granting this guy a license.

Too soon to make a judgement call on this. The pilot's prior history may have nothing to do with this accident. Let's let it play out.