Balloon
Flight Crew Lighter-Than-Air; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 26; Flight Crew Total 305; Flight Crew Type 305
Situational Awareness
Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Inflight Event / Encounter Object
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; General Evacuated
Human Factors; Environment - Non Weather Related
I launched with eight passengers on board for a commercial Hot Air Balloon flight. The local airport AWOS was reporting calm winds and subsequent pilot balloon releases showed favorable conditions for the planed flight. The flight plan was for an approximate 60 minute flight landing at one of our known landing areas or other appropriate safe site. At the planned time I initiated my approach for landing at my planned landing site. During the descent I received an AWOS weather update relayed to me by my ground crew advising the wind direction and speed was 020-05K. As I descended it became evident the wind speed and direction was not going to allow me to land at this site. I added heat to the balloon and leveled out at approximately 50 FT above the ground. The wind direction at that altitude was taking me to another known landing area and I modified my approach to accommodate a landing at site number two. Site two was at a lower elevation and as I approached I maintained a 20 to 30 FT elevation above the terrain features. As I neared my intended landing site (approximately 200 yards away) I received a radio transmission from another pilot who had landed in the same area a few minutes earlier reporting that the wind had picked up since his arrival. I deemed it unsafe to land with the current wind speed at site two. I added heat to the balloon with the intent of flying on to the next best site.With the balloon starting a slow ascent and approximately 100 yards from site two the balloon envelope contacted unseen power lines 30 FT above the ground. As soon as I realized contact had occurred I shut down my fuel system and then vented the balloon to start an immediate descent. The balloon stayed entangled in the power line for a few seconds until the weight on the aircraft allowed it to descend to the ground. As the balloon touched down I instructed the passengers to make a quick and safe exit from the gondola being conscious of any downed lines. There had been two electric arcing instances as the balloon was in contact with power lines; which caused the majority of the damage to the balloon.All passengers exited the gondola safely and I then exited and made sure all occupants moved away from the site. After an assessment by me and my ground crew it was concluded that no passengers had sustained any injury. A ground crew member called 911 as a precaution and the local power company was called to have the power shut down and have any damage repaired. Within a few minutes emergency personal (Fire) arrived on scene.I have since contemplated the factors involved. This was a known landing site used many times in the past without incident. The approach this day was at a slightly different vector and created a flight path into the lines; which end 30 or fewer feet from where the strike took place. The lines were known in the vicinity however I believed they ended one pole sooner. With the increase of wind speed at the surface I was focused on the landing target and not enough on the surrounding environment. I believe it was an unfortunate case of target fixation. Even though an ascent was initiated there was not enough time/distance to avoid the strike. Trust what you see and not what you assume in all flight situations and watch your target fixation. Had I not taken for granted the adequacy of the landing zone I may have prevented this situation from happening.
A Hot Air Balloon pilot and his passengers evacuated and escaped injury after the balloon struck power lines on their landing approach.