The death of 16 people makes this the most fatal hot-air balloon crash in USA history, according to information from the NTSB.
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He believed his balloon and his pilot were the same involved in Saturday morning’s accident. Aerial photos show charred earth directly beneath the power lines at the crash site.
The first power line rip was reported at 7:42 a.m.by the electric company and the first 911 call came in roughly a minute later. There are around 200 large balloon tour operators in the US, and hundreds more smaller commercial outfits, he said.
The NTSB has expressed concern about safety regulations in hot air balloon activities, but the Federal Aviation Administration, which sets regulations for manned balloons, hasn’t acted on the NTSB’s recommendations, said Deborah Hersman, the board’s former chairwoman.
– February 26, 2013: A hot air balloon flying over Luxor, Egypt, caught fire and plunged 1,000 feet (300 meters) to the ground, crashing into a sugar cane field and killing at least 19 foreign tourists.
It’s not clear what part of the balloon hit the lines, spokesman Robert Sumwalt said.
The NTSB is still interested in speaking with anyone who thinks they may have witnessed or captured the balloon’s final moments on video. “It was very foggy here after the accident”, Sumwalt said.
The gondola, the basket portion of the hot air balloon, was separated from the balloon itself – called the envelope – upon impact with a power line.
Philip Bryant runs Ballooning Adventures of Texas in Richmond, which also does manufacturer-mandated inspections and maintenance for other operators.
Weather did not appear to be a problem, temperatures were moderate and wind was light.
He speculated that pilot error likely contributed because the equipment was in good shape.
It is unclear whether Heart of Texas Hot Air Balloon Rides implemented any of the NTSB’s recommended measures. Neighbors left flowers at Nichols’ home in the city of Kyle. Nichols moved south to Texas to be able to fly year-around, which the climate allows, Lirette said. The balloon crashed eight miles from its launch site.
“The NTSB concludes that passengers who hire air tour balloon operators should have the benefit of a similar level of safety oversight as passengers of air tour airplane and helicopter operations”, the letter said. The rating is limited to hot air balloons with an airborne heater.
Missouri records list Nichols as the owner of Air Balloon Sports LLC, based out of the same Chesterfield address as the FAA record.
Caldwell County Sheriff Daniel Law and the Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed the number of victims in a statement Sunday.
Officials identified the balloon as the Czech-made Balony Kubicek model BB85Z.
The FAA inspects the balloons used for commercial ventures after 100 hours of flight time or at least once a year.
Up to 24 people are allowed on a balloon flight, according to the company’s website.
Bartch also said Nichols was cautious about keeping his passengers safe and that at least two vehicles would follow the balloon on the ground.
Before Saturday, the deadliest hot air balloon crash in the United States was a 1993 accident in Colorado that killed six people, according to the NTSB.
– August 13, 1989: Thirteen people were killed when their hot air balloon collided with another over the Australian outback near the town of Alice Springs.
Sunday Rowan bought a balloon flight for her husband as a birthday gift last year, and it had taken them a while to schedule it, Brent Jones, the father of Sunday’s 5-year-old son, Jett, told CNN. He said several passengers seemed to be related.
It’s apparently the worst such disaster in USA history, and one of the worst ever in the world.
The worst hot air balloon accident in US history is prompting a new look at whether federal safety regulations are needed to oversee the popular pastime.
A photo posted on social media apparently depicting the accident showed a balloon in the air with huge flames spurting underneath.
Those recovered devices will be sent to the NTSB lab in Washington, D.C. for analysis.
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The National Transportation Safety Board brief reporters on Sunday. Federal Aviation Administration officials said it caught fire before crashing.
