Cameron Z90 N982ZS

Summary

On 4 September 2016 at about 14:30 local time, a Cameron Z90 registered N982ZS was involved in an accident near Morrill, Nebraska, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 September 2016 at 14:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Morrill, Nebraska, United States

Coordinates

42.0003, -103.8831

Aircraft

Cameron Z90

Registration

N982ZS

Category

Balloon

Year built

2012

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Mitchell → Morrill

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN16LA352

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s improper inflight fuel management, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and an inability to avoid contact with power lines.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The balloon was participating in a festival, and departed from a grass field with the private pilot and two passengers on board. The balloon climbed to 1,100 ft above ground level and drifted west. The pilot reported that, as the balloon approached a set of power lines, the wind diminished and the balloon became stationary. The pilot changed altitude several times in an attempt to find wind velocity and direction that would move the balloon away from the lines; however, as he again engaged the burners and attempted to climb, the burner system ran out of fuel. The balloon descended, and one of the metal carabiners that attached the basket to the envelope struck a power line, resulting in a spark. The pilot pulled the deflation valve and immediately descended the balloon to the ground. A postaccident examination of the balloon showed impact and thermal arcing damage to the carabiner. Two of the envelope panels exhibited thermal damage, and the envelope temperature sensor wire, which runs from the top of the envelope to the instruments in the basket, was burnt in half. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the balloon.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.