Event DEN89LA003

Factual narrative

THE COMMERCIAL PLT WAS COMPETING IN A BALLOON FIESTA, WITH 2 PAX. THE PLT SELECTED A LANDING FIELD WITH POWER LINES AND A STREET RUNNING EAST AND WEST ACROSS IT. THE BALLOON WAS DRIFTING SOUTH AND THE PLT SELECTED THE SOUTH END OF THE FIELD FOR LANDING, REQUIRING THE FLIGHT PATH TO CROSS OVER THE LINES. DURING THE DESCENT FROM 200 FT AGL, THE PLT APPLIED HEAT TO LEVEL OFF SO THE BALLOON WOULD CLEAR THE POWER LINE IN THE FLIGHT PATH. THE PLT SAID THE ELEVATION MADE THE BALLOON'S RESPONSE SLUGGISH AND THE BASKET DESCENDED BELOW THE POWER LINES. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO CLIMB BY ADDING MORE HEAT, THEN DEFLATED THE BALLOON TO STRIKE THE LINES WITH THE ENVELOPE RATHER THEN THE BASKET. THE ENVELOPE HIT THE LINES AND BURNED. THE BASKET HUNG 20 FT OFF THE GROUND FOR ABOUT A MINUTE, THEN SLID TO THE GROUND. MOLTEN MATERIAL FROM THE BURNING ENVELOPE FELL ON THE PAX AS THEY EXITED THE BASKET. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12