Ballonbau Worner NL-1000/STU N801NM

Summary

On 29 September 2010 at about 06:06 local time, a Ballonbau Worner NL-1000/STU registered N801NM, operated by Peak Express Balloon Inc, was involved in an accident near Adriatic Sea, Unknown. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 September 2010 at 06:06

Classification

Accident

Location

Adriatic Sea, Unknown

Coordinates

42.1683, 16.1367

Aircraft

Ballonbau Worner NL-1000/STU

Registration

N801NM

Category

Balloon

Operator

Peak Express Balloon Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Air Race/Show

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bristol → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Dawn

NTSB number

ERA10LA511

2 people died.

The crew's intentional flight into known adverse weather conditions, which resulted in destruction of the balloon envelope by lightning strike and the subsequent uncontrolled descent to the sea.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The balloon race crew was participating in a cross-continent race in Europe. Despite the advice and counsel of a renowned meteorologist who specialized in balloon-race route planning, the crew chose a route of flight where thunderstorms and other adverse weather phenomenon were predicted. Communications transcripts from Italian air traffic control revealed that, in the last moments of the flight, the crew reported thunder and lightning in the vicinity of the balloon, that they were losing altitude due to the snow, and ultimately stated that they were descending very fast towards the sea. The Prosecutor's Office in the Court of Lucia, Italy, claimed jurisdiction over the wreckage and the crew's remains and appointed a technical advisor to conduct an investigation. His examination of the envelope revealed thermal damage in the lower half of the envelope consistent with a lightning strike. Further examination revealed shredding in the lower half, and slices in the upper half consistent with a hydrogen detonation. The basket was deformed by impact damage, but displayed no evidence of thermal damage.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.