Balloon Works 7-B accident near Masterson, Texas, April 3, 1982
On April 3, 1982 at about 3:20 pm local time, a Balloon Works 7-B, registered N1524U, suffered minor damage in an accident near Masterson, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 3, 1982 · about 3:20 pm local time
- Place
- Masterson, Texas
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Balloon Works 7-B
- Registration
- N1524U · registry record · serial 10311
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER MAKING WEATHER OBSERVATIONS AND OBTAINING A WEATHER BRIEFING, THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (IP) BRIEFED THE CHASE CREW OF THE EXPECTED NORTHERLY TRACK. THE IP AND STUDENT TOOK OFF AT 0705 CST AND ASCENDED TO 1200 TO 15000 FT AGL AND BEGAN TRACKING NORTH-NORTHWEST. AFTER SEVERAL ANTENNAS WERE NOTED DOWNWIND, AN ASCENT WAS MADE TO 3200 FT AGL AND THE BALLOON MOVED EASTERLY. AFTER DESCENDING, IT TRACKED DUE NORTH. THE BALLOON PROCEEDED INTO AN AREA OF UNFAVORABLE TERRAIN WITH NO EAST-WEST ROADS. ALSO, THE SKY CONDITION BECAME HAZY AND THE IP BELIEVED THE CHASE CREW WOULD HAVE DIFFICULTY FOLLOWING; THEREFORE, THEY CONTINUED FOR A RECOVERY NEAR A MAJOR ROAD. MEANWHILE, THE WIND PICKED UP TO 20 MPH. AT ABOUT 0920, A LANDING WAS MADE NEAR A HIGHWAY IN AN AREA COVERED WITH MESQUITE. DURING THE LANDING, CONTACT WAS MADE WITH SEVERAL OF THE MESQUITE, A FENCE, AND THE GROUND. THE ENVELOPE ALSO BRUSHED AGAINST A POWER LINE. THE STUDENT WAS INJURED DURING THE LANDING.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 43 hours in all; 43 in this make and model; 30 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 43 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Amarillo TX at 7:05 am
- Destination: Amarillo TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 124°F (51°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.