Basket Separated From Envelope 60-Feet Above Pasture

A helium balloon flying low over a cattle pasture hit a power line and went down in north-central Iowa on Friday, November 16. Killed were two men--one from Littleton and the other from Fort Collins--a third man from New Mexico was injured, according to authorities.

The balloon was descending when it hit the line around 9:15 a.m. The balloon and the basket separated and the basket fell 60 feet to the ground, said Franklin County Sheriff Larry Richtsmeier, according to the Associated Press.

Killed in the accident were Thomas Boylan, 62, of Fort Collins, and Bradley Brookhart, 37, of Littleton. Doug Chaplin, 58, of Albuquerque, N.M., was listed in fair condition Friday night at a hospital in Mason City. Boylan, a physician, was reported to be an experienced balloon pilot, and had flown several times in the annual America's Challenge Gas Balloon Race.

Local area residents who had come out of their house to wave at the balloonists saw it hit the power line, called 911 and rushed to the scene, Richtsmeier said. The basket was found on its side in the pasture, about three miles southwest of Coulter, Iowa.

Marillyn Korth and her husband had heard the balloon was heading in their direction so were watching for it from their living room window. They said it seemed to suddenly stop in mid-air.

"I was going to go out there to wave at them because that's very exciting. We don't see very many balloons," she said.

"But it didn't end up being that exciting. I'm glad at least someone was there. At least we could watch and get help," said Korth.

Investigators from the sheriff's office were at the scene Friday afternoon and officials from the Federal Aviation Administration had arrived to assist in the investigation.

They were flying beneath a helium balloon, rather than a more common hot air balloon powered by propane burners, according to investigators. Paperwork found in one of the men's pockets indicated they had spent Thursday night in the Omaha, Neb., area.

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.ntsb.gov