Cameron ET-90 N898ET
26 April 1994 · Louisville, Kentucky, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 26 April 1994 at about 12:08 local time, a Cameron ET-90 registered N898ET, operated by Brown Foreman Beverage Company, was involved in an accident near Louisville, Kentucky, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 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 12:08
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Louisville, Kentucky, United States
- Coordinates
- 38.2198, -85.6805
- Aircraft
- Cameron ET-90
- Registration
- N898ET
- Category
- Balloon
- Operator
- Brown Foreman Beverage Company
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Business
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- BFO94LA078
People
3 people had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM WIRES DURING THE LANDING APPROACH. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT IS A DOWNDRAFT THAT EXCEEDED THE BALLOON'S AVAILABLE CLIMB CAPABILITY.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING AND SENT UP THREE WEATHER BALLOONS PRIOR TO LAUNCHING ON THE FLIGHT. IMMEDIATELY AFTER INITIATING FLIGHT, THE PILOT NOTICED DARKENING SKIES AND DECIDED TO LAND THE BALLOON SHORT OF THE DESTINATION. THE PILOT CHOSE A LANDING AREA IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO POWERLINES AND AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. HE STATED THAT HE ESTABLISHED A GLIDE PATH SO THAT HE WOULD CLEAR THE TOPS OF THE POWERLINES BY 20 FEET. THE PILOT FURTHER STATED THAT THE BALLOON ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT AND STRUCK THE POWERLINES.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Sep 1994 | Piper PA-28R-180 | Vine Grove, Kentucky, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 18 Jan 1994 | Cessna 425 | London, Kentucky, United States | Conquest Charter Corp. | Serious injuries | - |
| 9 Nov 1994 | Cessna 150L | Dawson Springs, Kentucky, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 2 Apr 1994 | Cessna 182A | Berea, Kentucky, United States | Thunderbird Sport Parachute CL | Serious injuries | - |
| 17 Jun 1994 | Robinson R22 BETA | Elizabethtown, Kentucky, United States | J. R. Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 15 Aug 1994 | Cessna 172 | Fisherville, Kentucky, United States | Darnell, Harold | No injuries | - |