Colt Balloons 160A accident near Clinton, MA
On July 20, 2014, a Colt Balloons 160A (balloon) was involved in an accident near Clinton, MA. 3 people were seriously injured. Damage to the aircraft: minor.
- Date
- July 20, 2014
- Place
- Clinton, MA
- Aircraft
- Colt Balloons 160A · Balloon
- Injuries
- 0 fatal, 3 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Minor
- Position
- 42.417°N, 71.683°W
- NTSB ID
- 20140722X24951
Official records · ERA14LA347
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn July 19, 2014, about 2000 eastern daylight time, a Colt Balloons 160A, N976TC, contacted powerlines in Clinton, Massachusetts. The balloon received minor damage. The pilot and three passengers were uninjured, and three passengers were seriously injured. The local sightseeing flight was operated by Damn Yankee Balloons under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight, which departed from a field in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, about 1845. The pilot stated that the accident flight was the second flight that day. After meeting the passengers and ground crew at the departure location, he provided the passengers with a safety briefing that included all aspects of the flight, including the risks involved and the flight procedures and timeline. While the pilot conducted the safety briefing, his ground crew assembled the balloon. The pilot then performed a preflight inspection before inflating the envelope. The passengers boarded, and the pilot conducted a second preflight inspection before launching. According to the pilot, after launch, the balloon climbed to about 1,000 ft above ground level (agl) and traveled 170°-180° (southbound) at a groundspeed of about 5 knots. About 1 hour into the flight, the balloon passed over a reservoir, then the wind "shifted" and the balloon began approaching the town of Clinton. Witness photographs captured images of the balloon as it traveled over the reservoir between 50 and 100 ft agl. One witness reported that the balloon's
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate preflight and inflight planning and improper landing site selection and approach path, which resulted in the balloon contacting powerlines during landing. Contributing to the accident was the Federal Aviation Administration's inadequate oversight of balloon tour operators.
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Browse: Massachusetts
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
