Avian Balloon MAGNUM IX N1613B
6 July 1992 · Driggs, Idaho, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 6 July 1992 at about 15:35 local time, a Avian Balloon MAGNUM IX registered N1613B, operated by W.g.e., Inc., was involved in an accident near Driggs, Idaho, United States. 6 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 15:35
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Driggs, Idaho, United States
- Coordinates
- 43.7306, -111.2206
- Aircraft
- Avian Balloon MAGNUM IX
- Registration
- N1613B
- Category
- Balloon
- Operator
- W.g.e., Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- SEA92LA145
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO INSURE ADEQUATE CLEARANCE. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: WEATHER CONDITION (DOWNDRAFT) AND OBJECT (TRANSMISSION WIRES).
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
WHILE EXECUTING A LANDING IN A FIELD THE PILOT IN COMMAND OF THE PART 91 BALLOON FLIGHT DESCENDED TO 60 FEET AGL IN THE VICINITY OF ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION LINES. JUST BEFORE CROSSING THE LINES THE BALLOON SUDDENLY DESCENDED TO 30 AGL FEET. THE PILOT IN COMMAND ELECTED TO STRIKE THE WIRES AS HE BELIEVED THAT AN ASCENT OVER THE WIRES WAS NOT POSSIBLE. DURING THE WIRE STRIKE AND LANDING, A FIRE DEVELOPED WHICH CONSUMED BOTH THE BALLOON AND GONDOLA.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Avian Balloon MAGNUM accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Apr 1993 | Avian Balloon MAGNUM IX | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | American HOT Airlines, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 22 Sep 1996 | Avian Balloon MAGNUM IX | Stilwell, Kansas, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 3 Oct 1987 | Avian Balloon MAGNUM IX | Carefree, Arizona, United States | Rainbow Balloon Flights | Serious injuries | - |
| 10 Apr 2012 | Avian Balloon MAGNUM IX | Sedona, Arizona, United States | Northern Light Balloon Expeditions | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Apr 1992 | Cessna 182B | Dixie, Idaho, United States | Leonard, James A. and Linda K. | No injuries | - |
| 7 Dec 1992 | Bell 47G3-B2A | Montpelier, Idaho, United States | Wood, Brent V. | No injuries | - |
| 8 May 1992 | Aviat A-1 | Arco, Idaho, United States | Bjornson, Donald R. | No injuries | - |
| 12 Dec 1992 | Piper PA-46 | Twin Falls, Idaho, United States | David & Patricia Wilson | Minor injuries | - |
| 13 Dec 1992 | Maule M5-180C | Garden Valley, Idaho, United States | Kurt C. Larson | No injuries | - |
| 13 Dec 1992 | Bellanca 7GCBC | Arco, Idaho, United States | Gregory L. POE | No injuries | - |