NTSB Identification: GAA15CA157A
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Thursday, July 02, 2015 in Provo, UT
Probable Cause Approval Date: 08/12/2015
Aircraft: BALLOON WORKS FIREFLY8 - 24, registration: N7148P
Injuries: 1 Minor, 5 Uninjured.
NTSB investigators used data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator and did not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.
The pilots of the two balloons involved in a midair collision reported that they both began the takeoff ascent as part of a competition. The Balloon Works balloon pilot, who was lower than the Balony balloon during the ascent, reported that his envelope collided vertically with the basket of the Balony balloon, about 2,000 feet above the ground. The Balony balloon pilot reported that he saw the Balloon Works balloon below him and started to use both of the available burners, but was unable to climb fast enough. After the midair collision, the Balloon Works balloon began to descend about 700 feet per minute and impacted the ground. The pilot of the Balony Balloon reported that he landed without further incident.
Both of the pilots reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with their balloons or burners that would have precluded normal operation.
A postaccident inspection of the Balony balloon revealed no damage to the balloon or the burner. A postaccident inspection of the Balloon Works balloon revealed substantial damage to the envelope.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The failure of the Balloon Works pilot to see and avoid the Balony Balloon during an ascent, which resulted in the envelope of the Balloon Works balloon colliding vertically with the basket of the Balony balloon.
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Seymour, the piggy bank hot air balloon, crashes at Provo Balloon Fest
Grant Hindsley, Daily Herald
The Bank of American Fork piggy bank balloon crash lands near Utah Valley Regional Medical Center during America's Freedom Festival Balloon Fest on Thursday, July 2, 2015. GRANT HINDSLEY, Daily Herald
July 02, 2015 3:10 pm • Janice Peterson & Cathy Allred Daily Herald
Photos: Pig balloon crashes at Provo Balloon Fest
For many county residents, a favorite event of the Provo Freedom Festival weekend is the three-day early morning hot air balloon festival
PROVO — A hot air balloon pilot made an emergency landing during Provo's Balloon Fest Thursday morning, and survived with only minor injuries.
One of two Bank of American Fork-sponsored hot air balloons flying as part of the annual Freedom Festival’s popular balloon race, the well-known piggy bank balloon called Seymour got a hole ripped into its pink hide after the basket of another balloon came in contact above it.
As Seymour began descending, the pilot, Erwin Oertli, was able to land fairly safely with a minor argument with a tree.
“What saved my bacon was that the head of the pig held a lot of hot air and helped the balloon to descend at a safer rate,” Oertli said.
The crash occurred at approximately 7 a.m. after the balloons launched at Fox Field, according to Battalion Chief Kevin Paxton with the Provo Fire Department. Seymour rose up about 300 yards in the air and began traveling south over an area razed for the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center expansion.
“Erwin's skill as a pilot helped him make the best of a very challenging situation,” said Lyle Bingham, a fellow pilot and eyewitness. Oertli trained Bingham as a hot air balloon pilot several years ago. Some would say he trained more than half the pilots in Utah County.
“He worked to control the balloon all the way down,” Bingham said.
Paxton said the pilot fired up the burners to help the balloon descend safely, but the collapsing balloon caused plastic on the balloon envelope ring to melt from heat. The balloon then struck a tree as it continued to descend.
A small amount of the melted plastic dripped on Oertli’s face and caused very minor burns. Medics treated the burns and released him at the scene.
"He was really lucky," Paxton said. "It could have turned out a lot worse."
He will fly another, non-sponsored balloon on Friday, the second day of the competition, Oertli said. The Federal Aviation Administration is conducting an investigation.
Bronson Kelly, the son of Balloons West founder Brian Kelly, piloted the other Bank of American Fork-sponsored balloon, called Americana. Bronson is in first place for the first day of the two-day ballooning competition. He will fly again on Friday.
Bank of American Fork began its hot air balloon program in 1984 when it sponsored Kelly and Oertli of Balloons West. The balloons are owned by Balloons West and flown on behalf of the bank.
They are known in the hot air ballooning community as two of the most experienced pilots in Utah.
"I've watched Erwin fly year after year and he usually wins the contest," said Paul Overson, the Balloon Fest sound controller.