NTSB CAROL · Event
Event FTW83FA324
Aircraft involved
Factual narrative
DURING A LANDING IN LIGHT WIND CONDITIONS, THE BALLOON TOUCHED DOWN BESIDE A POWER LINE. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE BALLOON ENVELOPE COLLAPSED OVER THE POWER LINE WHICH CARRIED 7200 VOLTS. THE VOLTAGE TRAVELED TO THE BASKET/GONDOLA WHICH OVERTURNED ON THE GRASS SURFACE. THE PLT & 1 PASSENGER WERE FATALLY INJURED DUE TO CARDIAC ARREST FROM ELECTROCUTION. THE BALLOON WAS DAMAGED FROM HIGH VOLTAGE DISCHARGE TO GROUND, FLASH BURNS & SCORCHING. ALSO, A SMALL GRASS FIRE WAS STARTED BUT WAS EXTINGUISHED BY PERSONNEL AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_1983_FTW83FA324.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
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