Thunder and Colt 120A N416TC
16 August 1994 · Bloomington, Illinois, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 16 August 1994 at about 01:00 local time, a Thunder and Colt 120A registered N416TC was involved in an accident near Bloomington, Illinois, United States. 6 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 01:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Bloomington, Illinois, United States
- Coordinates
- 40.4694, -88.9700
- Aircraft
- Thunder and Colt 120A
- Registration
- N416TC
- Category
- Balloon
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- CHI94LA275
People
2 people were seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Probable cause
the unforcast, unanticipated adverse wind conditions and thermal activity. A factor was the powerlines.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
IN HIS WRITTEN STATEMENT, THE PILOT REPORTED HE RECEIVED THOROUGH WEATHER INFORMATION AND THE FIRST 20 MINUTES OF THE FLIGHT WERE UNREMARKABLE. WINDS WERE ABOUT THREE KNOTS. THE BALLOON WAS UNEXPECTEDLY ENTRAINED IN A 'LARGE THERMAL' AND CIRCLING WINDS. THE PILOT MADE THREE APPROACH ATTEMPTS, AND ABORTED EACH. ON THE FOURTH ATTEMPT, HE MADE AN APPROACH TO A PARKING LOT THEN ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON THE ROOF OF A BUILDING. THE BASKET SLID OVER THE BUILDING AND THE ENVELOPE CONTINUED INTO POWERLINES ON THE LEEWARD SIDE. HE SAID THERE WAS A 'LOUD POP AND A BRIGHT FLASH' AND THE BASKET SETTLED GENTLY TO THE GROUND.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Jul 1994 | Piper PA-28-140 | Kankakee, Illinois, United States | Koerner Aviation, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 17 Jul 1994 | Cessna 150 | Alton, Illinois, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 19 Apr 1994 | Remote Sensing CIRRUS VK-30 | Lk In the Hills, Illinois, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 22 Jul 1994 | Cessna 175 | Cottage Hill, Illinois, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 15 Jul 1994 | Piper PA-22 | Harvard, Illinois, United States | Edwin D. Swart | No injuries | - |
| 5 Jul 1994 | Hucke Ronald L PARSON-2P | Monmouth, Illinois, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |