BS: Ballooning tragedy in NZ

Subject: BS: Ballooning tragedy in NZ
From: Little Robyn
Date: 06 Jan 12 - 09:20 PM

A group of people went on a sightseeing trip in a hot air balloon this morning and something went wrong.
Click here for news item.
This must be one of the worst accidents in NZ aviation history!
Robyn

Subject: RE: BS: Ballooning tragedy in NZ
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 06 Jan 12 - 10:35 PM

Oh, how sad.

Subject: RE: BS: Ballooning tragedy in NZ
From: JennieG
Date: 07 Jan 12 - 12:22 AM

Read it on local news link this morning - very sad.

Subject: RE: BS: Ballooning tragedy in NZ
From: Little Robyn
Date: 07 Jan 12 - 01:07 AM

It seems to be the pilot/owner and 5 couples from the Wellington region, some of whom had been given tickets for the balloon ride as a Christmas present.
Tragic.
Robyn

Subject: RE: BS: Ballooning tragedy in NZ
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 07 Jan 12 - 01:17 AM

Hot air balloon crashes killing all on board

Subject: RE: BS: Ballooning tragedy in NZ
From: kendall
Date: 07 Jan 12 - 03:52 AM

What an awful thing to experience. When the Grim reaper comes for me, I don't want to see him coming.

Subject: RE: BS: Ballooning tragedy in NZ
From: catspaw49
Date: 07 Jan 12 - 08:56 AM

Geeziz.....Truly tragic. I can't imagine what the relatives who were waiting on the ground are going through. Those who died are all too easy to imagine............

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Ballooning tragedy in NZ
From: Brian May
Date: 07 Jan 12 - 10:37 AM

Having been hot air ballooning it is a wonderful experience, however the pilot has to be incredibly spacially aware because it takes quite a time for the balloon to respond in the vertical plane - a balloon with this many on board would have a lot of inertia too and only respond slowly.

So sad, my condolences to all involved.

Subject: RE: BS: Ballooning tragedy in NZ
From: gnu
Date: 07 Jan 12 - 11:17 AM

Oh my!

Subject: RE: BS: Ballooning tragedy in NZ
From: Little Robyn
Date: 07 Jan 12 - 10:27 PM

The pilot was one of the most experienced in the country and he owned the ballooon so I don't think it was pilot error. The weather was good and they'd been up for awhile. I don't think they hit the power lines until they were on their way down - in a hurry - with a fire already burning. Two people jumped/fell as it hit the lines but even with 2 nurses nearby, there was nothing that could be done to save them.
So far only the pilot has been named.
Robyn

Subject: RE: BS: Ballooning tragedy in NZ
From: Little Robyn
Date: 07 Jan 12 - 10:45 PM

Latest news report.

It sounds as if they did hit power lines, caught fire and then lifted off again before plunging back down.
Robyn

Subject: RE: BS: Ballooning tragedy in NZ
From: Paul Burke
Date: 08 Jan 12 - 05:22 AM

Perhaps we'll never know what happened, but I know that the pilot would not have attempted to land near power lines except in dire emergency. They carry very detailed maps which have not only the location of standing hazards like trees and power cables, but they also phone landowners on the expected route (think how wide a territory that can be given the unpredictability of wind) to check for the location of livestock, crops and machinery. Little is left to chance. Perhaps a catastrophic failure of the gas bottle regulator, leading to uncontrolled burning?

Subject: RE: BS: Ballooning tragedy in NZ
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 08 Jan 12 - 06:56 AM

What is even more sad is that many of the victims' relatives had bought the tickets for them as a Christmas present, and were watching as it happened. A terrible tragedy.

Subject: RE: BS: Ballooning tragedy in NZ
From: Brian May
Date: 08 Jan 12 - 01:56 PM

To be honest, the cause is now academic, who/whatever is responsible, a tragedy is a tragedy, especially to NOK and friends.

The accident will be investigated by professional investigators.

Subject: RE: BS: Ballooning tragedy in NZ
From: GUEST,CJB
Date: 08 Jan 12 - 06:11 PM

Terrible accident. Ballooning is something I have always wanted to do, but now I don't think I'll bother. However there is one issue I'm wondering about - 11 adults seems a tad many for a single hot air balloon?

Subject: RE: BS: Ballooning tragedy in NZ
From: Fossil
Date: 08 Jan 12 - 07:31 PM

Many years back, I was a passenger on the "Gerard A. Heieken", at the time the world's largest balloon, on one of its very rare 'free' flights (it was usually flown on a tether). It was a fabulous experience, but on landing, I well remember seeing a HT power line pass a few feet below the basket before we touched down.

I feel very sad for the people and families involved in this tragedy.

Reading between the lines of the newspaper report this morning, it would seem that the balloon did hit power cables first, then sparks must have ignited some of the propane (big balloons like that carry a LOT of propane). The resulting gust of hot air would have caused the balloon to ascend uncontrollably while the fire got a proper hold, eventually consuming the whole thing and causing the subsequent plummet to the ground. The flight was apparently captured on several films and videos, so the investigation should be conclusive.

No reason that I can see for anyone to decline to go up in a balloon, go skydiving, or any other aviation sport. I'd do it in a heartbeat. A very sad accident, but no reflection on the general safety of such flights, nor any reason I can see for more stringent legislation.

Subject: RE: BS: Ballooning tragedy in NZ
From: Fossil
Date: 08 Jan 12 - 07:39 PM

Sorry, left out a few letters from the "Gerard A HeiNEken" in post above. This balloon was a promotional tool for the beer, and had a double-decker basket. It carried, I think, up to 10 passengers and 2 crew. As I mentioned, they usually flew it on a tether as it was too big to fly free if there was any chance of a speedy landing, but on the day I flew in it, the wind was a light drift.

We were up for an hour or so and covered about 3 miles of countryside between Mere (Wiltshire, UK) and a village called Milton (something). A really magical experience.

Subject: RE: BS: Ballooning tragedy in NZ
From: Cats
Date: 08 Jan 12 - 11:19 PM

This is the worst nightmare for anyone in a balloon. They fly from the field down the lane here on a regular basis and are spectacular. I am planning to fly over the Valley of the Kings in Egypt later this year. My thoughts are with the families.

Subject: RE: BS: Ballooning tragedy in NZ
From: Pete Jennings
Date: 09 Jan 12 - 06:07 AM

Milton on Stour is approx 3 miles from Mere. That ring a bell?

Subject: RE: BS: Ballooning tragedy in NZ
From: frogprince
Date: 09 Jan 12 - 12:20 PM

What fossil said; certainly this was a tragedy, and singularly devastating for the family members that witnessed it. But common balloon flight is by no means a high risk venture for the foolhardy. My wife and I went up a few years ago, and I would highly recommend the experience to anyone.

Subject: RE: BS: Ballooning tragedy in NZ
From: Brian May
Date: 09 Jan 12 - 01:36 PM

I must agree with frog prince, it's an experience second to none.

Whilst a tragedy it undeniably is . . . this kind of accident is VERY rare.

Eleven people on board - not excessive, but it's directly related to the volume of the balloon. Obviously the larger it is, the heavier and the more fuel (gas bottles) pro-rata need to be carried in addition to the pax.

Aircraft, cars, trains crash . . . shit happens sometimes, but we still regularly do all those things.

Please, if you're thinking of a balloon flight, don't let this accident put you off - the experience is almost magical.

Subject: RE: BS: Ballooning tragedy in NZ
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 10 Jan 12 - 07:59 AM

Ballooning has always been something that I would have liked to have done. In Bristol UK it is quite a common sight to watch them floating from Ashton Court across the city skyline in August and we do take it for granted somewhat. Lots of people consider booking a balloon trip to celebrate a special occasion like a birthday or an anniversary gift. It is tragic for something like this to happen in NZ.