The crash happened about 7:40 a.m. Saturday. The approximate location of the crash can be seen in the map below.
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He said Sunday that investigators are “trying to nail down as best we can” whether fog was a factor; though it was foggy after the accident, he is not sure whether there was fog at the time of the crash. “Abbott said in the statement on Saturday that he and Cecilia Abbott, his wife “extend our honest condolences” for people affected” by this “heartbreaking tragedy”.
Erik Grosof with the National Transportation Safety Board says a full-bore investigation was to begin Sunday after more federal officials arrive.
Sumwalt said the passengers met the balloon operator in the San Marcos Wal-Mart parking lot at about 5:45 a.m. Saturday, and traveled to Fentress Texas Airpark. We’re not here right now to solve the accident. “We think there may be some chase footage from those cars”, Sumwalt said. Federal rules already require commercial pilots like her to have their balloons inspected every year or every 100 hours, among other requirements, she said.
No one survived a hot air balloon crash in Central Texas, Travis County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to KTBC-TV in Austin. According to his Facebook page, Nichols was the Chief Pilot for Heart of Texas Hot Air Balloon Rides. The manufacturer of Nichols’ balloon mandates an annual inspection, he said, adding that he couldn’t do it this year but believes Nichols took it to another inspector. Six complaints have been filed, primarily regarding canceled flights. The most recent complaint claimed that a flight reservation was rescheduled and the complainant was unable to get a refund from the company.
Witnesses to the crash Saturday morning described hearing popping sounds and then seeing a blaze of flames.
Another neighbor, Don Schulle, also heard the crash.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of those who passed away with Skip”, it said.
Eric Weiss, a public affairs spokesman for National Transformation Safety Board, on Sunday said the accident is still under investigation and he could not confirm the identity of anyone that might have been aboard the balloon.
Former NTSB chairman Deborah Hersman wrote a letter to the FAA on April 2014, recommending that the air traffic control agency tighten regulations for hot air balloon operators, over concerns that not doing so would risk a “high number of fatalities in a single air tour balloon accident”, according to USA Today.
The pilot in the crash was also identified on Sunday. And what that really means is we’re looking at the operation of the balloon, the pilot, the company that operated the balloon. In February 2013, 19 people died and two people were injured when a balloon caught fire over Luxor, Egypt, and plunged 1,000 feet to the ground. The mother and daughter are from San Antonio.
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“The NTSB feels there needs to greater oversight by the regulator”, or the FAA, he said.
