Widely Televised Videos Of A Balloon Exploding Into Flames Brings To Question Hot Air Balloon Safety

What started off as the Mid-Atlantic Balloon Festival at the Meadow in Caroline County, Virginia on May 9th turned tragic when balloon pilot Daniel Kirk appears to have struck power lines with 2 passengers aboard. The disturbing videos show the balloon gondola engulfed in flames as the balloon rises after striking the lines. Both the FAA and the NTSB are investigating this accident, but there is more to the story.

Hot air ballooning is a popular sport in the United States and an accident like this brings the question of, “Is this sport safe.” While ballooning accidents do occur, most of them result in not much more than scrapes and bruises if the balloon gondola tumbles when touching down on a landing. The last major fatal accident of a hot air balloon in the United States occurred in 1993. The common initial reaction of the public is often to condemn an aviation activity after an accident, especially one that is recorded and so widely broadcast by the public media.

It has been reported that pilot Daniel Kirk was properly FAA certificated and was considered by his peers to be an excellent hot air balloon pilot. It will be up to the FAA and NTSB to determine what actually led to this accident. Certificated hot air balloon pilots are trained in the art of ballooning and in the stringent safety requirements of operating and maintaining the onboard propane system used to provide hot air. While balloons fly at the whim of the winds, balloon pilots can skillfully maneuver them by changing altitude. The investigation will certainly focus on the maneuvering of the balloon and the onboard propane system.

As reported by ANN last month, the NTSB has recently expressed concern over the commercial operation of hot air balloon flights referred to as “air tour balloon operators.” The NTSB has recommended to the FAA that these operators should acquire a “letter of authorization” from the FAA to be approved for these operations. The FAA has not taken action on this recommendation as of this time, and the Balloon Federation of America does not favor this move.

ANN will keep you posted on the accident findings and on any movement towards increased regulating of air tour balloon operators.

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