Lindstrand Balloons 105A accident near Wesley Chapel, Florida, March 24, 2018
On March 24, 2018 at about 12:45 pm local time, a 2007 Lindstrand Balloons 105A, registered N1517H, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Wesley Chapel, Florida. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from powerlines during landing approach, which resulted in an inflight collision with the powerlines.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 24, 2018 · about 12:45 pm local time
- Place
- Wesley Chapel, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Lindstrand Balloons 105A NO SERIES, built 2007 · all 105As on the register
- Registration
- N1517H · registry record · serial 5371
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that, as the balloon approached the intended landing site, he saw that the area was roped off. He then decided to proceed to his alternate landing site, which was an adjacent field located behind a shopping center. He began a descent toward the alternate site and saw power lines as he passed over the shopping center. The pilot attempted to climb over the powerlines by activating the burners, but upon realizing that it was too late to climb, he secured the fuel and told his passengers to prepare for a hard landing. The balloon descended into the powerlines, resulting in substantial damage to the cables, throat, and scoop; then landed upright in the field. Recorded weather conditions near the accident site included calm wind. The accident is consistent with the pilot's failure to maintain clearance from powerlines during landing approach.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Contributed to outcome
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › (general) › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 339 hours in all; 193 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 303 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: none
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: none
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: none
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 193.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 11, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: Zephyrhills FL at 11:45 am
- Destination: Wesley Chapel FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observation at 12:35 pm from ZPH, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA18LA116.