Ballonbau Worner GMBH NL-1000/STU accident near Adriatic Sea, A1, September 29, 2010
On September 29, 2010 at about 6:06 am local time, a Ballonbau Worner GMBH NL-1000/STU (balloon), registered N801NM, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Adriatic Sea. It was an air show or air race flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The crew's intentional flight into known adverse weather conditions, which resulted in destruction of the balloon envelope by lightning strike and the subsequent uncontrolled descent to the sea.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 29, 2010 · about 6:06 am local time
- Place
- Adriatic Sea, A1 · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Ballonbau Worner GMBH NL-1000/STU
- Registration
- N801NM · no longer on the register · serial 1071
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Air show or air race flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The balloon race crew was participating in a cross-continent race in Europe. Despite the advice and counsel of a renowned meteorologist who specialized in balloon-race route planning, the crew chose a route of flight where thunderstorms and other adverse weather phenomenon were predicted. Communications transcripts from Italian air traffic control revealed that, in the last moments of the flight, the crew reported thunder and lightning in the vicinity of the balloon, that they were losing altitude due to the snow, and ultimately stated that they were descending very fast towards the sea. The Prosecutor's Office in the Court of Lucia, Italy, claimed jurisdiction over the wreckage and the crew's remains and appointed a technical advisor to conduct an investigation. His examination of the envelope revealed thermal damage in the lower half of the envelope consistent with a lightning strike. Further examination revealed shredding in the lower half, and slices in the upper half consistent with a hydrogen detonation. The basket was deformed by impact damage, but displayed no evidence of thermal damage.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- VFR encounter with IMC during enroute (cruise)
- Windshear or thunderstorm during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Explosion (non-impact) during enroute (cruise)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Convective weather › Thunderstorm › Effect on operation
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Convective weather › Lightning › Effect on equipment
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Flight crew
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 2,087 hours in all; 1,450 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
Co-pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 1,250 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 196 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 28, 2010
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Peak Express Balloon INC
The flight
- Departed from: Bristol at 11:29 pm
- Flight plan: not recorded
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 242° at 16 knots
- Temperature: -18°F (-28°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 6:00 am
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.