Thunder and Colt SPECIAL SHAPE GPATY
15 August 1992 · Tyler, Texas, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 15 August 1992 at about 12:50 local time, a Thunder and Colt SPECIAL SHAPE registered GPATY, operated by Foster, COY Z., was involved in an accident near Tyler, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously 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 12:50
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Tyler, Texas, United States
- Coordinates
- 32.3601, -95.3191
- Aircraft
- Thunder and Colt SPECIAL SHAPE
- Registration
- GPATY
- Category
- Balloon
- Operator
- Foster, COY Z.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- FTW92LA209
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE AND CLEARANCE FROM OBSTACLES.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE BALLOON COLLIDED WITH 69,000 VOLT POWER TRANSMISSION LINES WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MANEUVER TOWARD A DROP ZONE DURING AN ORGANIZED BALLOON RACE. THE BALLOON BASKET WAS ABOUT 20 TO 25 FEET OFF OF THE GROUND AT THE TIME OF THE COLLISION. THE WIRES ARCED THROUGH THE BASKET SUSPENSION LINES. ARC HOLES WERE FOUND IN BOTH FUEL TANKS AND THE FUEL WAS IGNITED. THE BASKET FELL TO THE GROUND WHEN THE ENVELOPE WAS RELEASED.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Jan 1992 | Beechcraft B19 | Bonham, Texas, United States | ARI BEN Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 4 Jan 1992 | Alvin D Campbell KR-2 | San Marcos, Texas, United States | Alvin D. Campbell | Fatal | 2 |
| 14 Jan 1992 | Cessna 205A | Spring, Texas, United States | Owens, Grady | No injuries | - |
| 22 Jan 1992 | Mooney M20J | Austin, Texas, United States | Kissock, Darryl C. | Serious injuries | - |
| 22 Jan 1992 | Piper PA-28-140 | Denton, Texas, United States | Thomas A. Tweeddale | No injuries | - |
| 5 Sep 1992 | Robinson R22 | Alpine, Texas, United States | Helicopters International | Fatal | 1 |