Fatal Hot Air Balloon Accident Subject Of NTSB Investigative Hearing
The crash of the hot air balloons 15 passengers and pilot onboard perished and the balloon was damaged due to striking power lines and post-crash fire.
At a hearing in Washington D.C. the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) officials stated the balloon pilot, Alfred “Skip” Nichols IV, 49 knew that the current weather conditions were dangerous, and they had reportedly worsened leading up to deadly flight.
On July 30, 2016, the hot air balloon, crashed into a field after striking high voltage powerlines near Lockhart, Texas.
The crash of the hot air balloons 15 passengers and pilot onboard perished and the balloon was damaged due to striking power lines and post-crash fire.
According to experts on hot air balloons, avoiding power lines can be challenging as they blend in with the ground and landscape.
“The pilot … had a record of multiple medical and psychiatric conditions as well as multiple prescription medication which were detected in toxicology,” said Bill English, the Hearing Officer.
An autopsy report released by Caldwell County stated Nichols had Ritalin, oxycodone, diazepam (Valium), cyclobenzaprine, dextromethorphan (cough syrup) and antihistamines in his blood at the time of the crash.
Missouri court records show Nichols had received four DUI convictions between February 1990 and March 2010, and he then moved to Texas in 2014.
Two hours before takeoff, Nichols was briefed on the weather conditions, said NTSB Board Member, Robert Sumwalt.
“The briefer noted conditions of the 1,200-foot ceiling with no temperature dew point spread and said clouds may be a problem,” stated a NTSB official, “The weather is very critical as we depend on wind speeds and directions to actually execute our flight.”
The Heart of Texas Hot Air Balloon Rides, has a D+ rating, is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau, and on the BBB Business Review has received six complaints in the last three years.
Nichols had also been sued at least twice in the past for injuring passengers.
According to the NTSB the July 30 balloon crash is the deadliest in U.S. history.
