Galaxy GLX-7 incident near Provo, Utah, July 5, 1991
On July 5, 1991 at about 1:50 pm local time, a Galaxy GLX-7 (balloon), registered N5353A, suffered minor damage in an incident near Provo, Utah. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S DIVERTED ATTENTION. FACOTRS INCLUDE ON GROUND CONTACT WITH A FENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 5, 1991 · about 1:50 pm local time · cases in 1991
- Place
- Provo, Utah · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Galaxy GLX-7
- Registration
- N5353A · registry record · serial 06
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE GALAXY GLX07 HOT AIR BALLOON IMPACTED A FENCE AFTER HE MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD. THE PILOT HAD BEEN TEMPORARILY DISTRACTED BY THE NEED TO RESECURE THE DEFLATION LINE TO THE BALLOON STRUCTURE, AND WHEN HE LOOKED UP HE SAW POWER LINES THAT HE WAS UNSURE THAT HE WOULD CLEAR. HE THEREFORE CHOSE TO EXECUTE THE PRESCAUTIONARY 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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: balloon; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,000 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 6,800 as pilot in command; 3,700 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,680 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N5353A on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: · as the NTSB recorded it
- Accidents and incidents in Utah 1,440 since 1982 · 264 in the last ten years
- Utah 8,357 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/SEA91IA159.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.