Foggy conditions may have contributed to the hot air balloon crash in Lockhart that killed 16 people over the weekend, investigators said Monday.
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Federal Aviation Administration records indicate the commercial pilot’s license of Alfred “Skip” Nichols, proprietor of Heart of Texas Hot Air Balloons, was up to date when his balloon crashed near Lockhart, Texas, on Saturday.
Sunday Rowan, 34, worked at insane 8 clothing, according to her Facebook page, and had 5-year-old son named Jett, the Austin newspaper said. However, when questioned under oath, Nichols reportedly testified that he brought the balloon down because it was drifting toward power lines. Two minutes after that, emergency responders received a 911 call from Caldwell County resident Margaret Wylie, who said she thought a vehicle was on fire.
She then adds: “The whole thing is in flames now”.
According to investigators, some of the balloon hit power lines when it went down. “If not, we’ll fly another day”. Worldwide, the worst hot air balloon crash in history took place in Luxor, Egypt in 2013. Sixteen people were killed in the crash. An examination of the balloon after the crash found “no evidence of preexisting failures, malfunctions or problems”, he said.
Tresa Owens, 54, worked at Tiger Land Child Care Center in Katy for 25 years, the center’s owner, Steve Sandweiss, told the newspaper.
Kersten has been in the ballooning industry for three decades and uses a basket that he nicknamed Betty to take his passengers to new heights. The NTSB also uncovered 14 personal electronic devices, including cell phones and cameras, at the crash site. The note, signed by employee Sarah Nichols, did not mention any plans to resume work.
“Rather, we issued them as a result of our concern about the operational deficiencies identified in our investigations of accidents involving commercial air tour balloon operations”.
Nichols also was convicted of a drug crime in 2000 and spent about a year-and-a-half in prison before he was paroled.
He had served about 18 months on the drug charge, getting out in 2004.
2015: Deed records show that Nichols purchased a house in Kyle, Texas, where he lived until his death, according to his roommate and colleague, Alan Lirette.
As part of the case, Patton said he learned from the Missouri Department of Revenue that Nichols’ driver’s license had been suspended for 10 years due to the 2002 drunken-driving conviction.
Nichols’ ex-girlfriend, Wendy Bartch, told The Associated Press that Nichols had several drunken-driving convictions in Missouri, but that he was in recovery and had been sober for at least four years.
“Our interest in the drug and alcohol (offenses) has to do with the ability to operate an aircraft”, Lunsford said.
When it comes to safety, Kersten says that the precautions taken on the ground before the balloon goes up are critical.
Nichols pleaded guilty to drunken driving in connection with 1997 and 1999 arrests in Missouri.
Carlton said the FAA requires every balloon pilot to have a flight review every two years by a certified instructor and to stay current on their take-off and landing procedures. Nichols was identified by friends and colleagues as the pilot of the downed hot air balloon, operated by Heart of Texas Hot Air Balloon Rides. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed.
Nichols moved to Texas in 2014. Nichols blamed lack of wind.
– Check with the Better Business Bureau about any consumer complaints.
“We’ll have 12, 15 hot air balloons seated on the ground and they light up like big light bulbs”.
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2001: In September, the Better Business Bureau again warned customers about Manchester Balloon Voyages, saying it had received more than three dozen complaints since late 1998.
