KUBICEK BB85 near Lockhart, TX — 2016-07-30
- Date
- 2016-07-30
- Location
- Lockhart, TX, USA
- Aircraft
- KUBICEK BB85
- Registration
- N2469L
- Category
- Balloon
- Highest injury
- Fatal
- Fatalities
- 16
Probable cause
The pilot's pattern of poor decision-making that led to the initial launch, continued flight in fog and above clouds, and descent near or through clouds that decreased the pilot's ability to see and avoid obstacles. Contributing to the accident were (1) the pilot's impairing medical conditions and medications and (2) the Federal Aviation Administration's policy to not require a medical certificate for commercial balloon pilots.
Contributing factors
Contributing to the accident were (1) the pilot's impairing medical conditions and medications and (2) the Federal Aviation Administration's policy to not require a medical certificate for commercial balloon pilots.
NTSB narrative
The NTSB's full report is available at http://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/AccidentReports.aspx. The Aircraft Accident Report number is NTSB/AAR-17/03. On July 30, 2016, about 0742 central daylight time, a Balóny Kubícek BB85Z hot air balloon, N2469L, operated by Heart of Texas Hot Air Balloon Rides, struck power lines and crashed in a field near Lockhart, Texas. The pilot and 15 passengers died, and the balloon was destroyed by impact forces and postcrash fire. The balloon was owned and operated by the pilot, and the flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a sightseeing passenger flight. The flight originated about 0658, just after sunrise, from Fentress Airpark, Fentress, Texas.
NTSB coding
Evidence available
- Video
- Photos
- 83 docket documents
Docket documentsshowing 50 of 83
- Exhibit 2E Attachment 4 - Pilot Informationform
- Exhibit 2G Attachment 6 - Balloon Informationform
- Exhibit 2K Attachment 10 - Kubicek Performance Informationform
- Exhibit 2T Addendum 3 - Kubicek Balloon Performanceform
- NHTSA Drugs and Human Performance Fact Sheets—Diazepamform
- 1F Statement of Purpose of a Hearinginterview
- Exhibit 2B Attachment 1 - Interview Summariesinterview
- Exhibit 2C Attachment 2 - Witness Statementsinterview
- 1A Order of Hearingother
- 1B Notice of Designation of Chairman of Board of Inquiryother
- 1C Designation of Hearing Officerother
- 1D Designation of Parties to Hearingother
- 1E Notice of Hearingother
- 1H Witness Biosother
- 1P BFA Action Plan - post-accidentother
- BFA Party Submissionother
- Correspondence from Great Eastern Balloon Assocother
- Exhibit 17B Airworthiness Group On-Scene Balloon Cable Examinationother
- Exhibit 17C Airworthiness Examination of Envelope and Basket Load Cablesother
- Exhibit 1J Safety Recommendations A-14-11 and -12 and responsesother
- Exhibit 1K FAA Balloon Flying Handbookother
- Exhibit 1L Balloon Tour LOA White Paperother
- Exhibit 1M BFA Industry Best Practices Guidelinesother
- Exhibit 1N BFA Best Practices - post-accidentother
- Exhibit 1Q FAA Safety Briefing Magazineother
- Exhibit 1S FAA Order 8000.373other
- Exhibit 1T FAA Presentation Malechaother
- Exhibit 1U - BFA Response to NTSB Recommendationsother
- Exhibit 1V - FAA Back-up Slides - Data - LOAother
- Exhibit 2D Attachment 3 - LCRA Dataother
- Exhibit 2F Attachment 5 - FAA Memorandumother
- Exhibit 2H Attachment 7 - N2469L Inspection Recordother
- Exhibit 2I Attachment 8 - N2469L Logbookother
- Exhibit 2J - Attachment 9 - Flight Manifestother
- Exhibit 2L Attachment 11 - Kubicek Weather Limitationsother
- Exhibit 2M Attachment 12 - Kubicek Checklistsother
- Exhibit 2N Attachment 13 - Kubicek Emergency Proceduresother
- Exhibit 2O Attachment 14 - Kubicek Passenger Briefingother
- Exhibit 2P Attachment 15 - Powerlines and Thunderstormsother
- Exhibit 2Q Addendum 1 - FAA Statisticsother
- Exhibit 2R Advisory Circular 91071other
- Exhibit 2S Addendum 2 - FAA Memo Detailsother
- Exhibit 5B Weather Attachment 2other
- Exhibit 5C Weather Attachment 4other
- Exhibit 5D Weather Attachment 5other
- Exhibit 5E Weather Attachment 6other
- Exhibit 5F Weather Attachment 7other
- Exhibit 5G Weather Attachment 8other
- Exhibit 5H Weather Attachment 9other
- Exhibit 5I Weather Attachment 10other
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