Pennsylvania — On Saturday, August 15, New Holland Police were dispatched to a hot air balloon accident in the 600 Block of North Railroad Avenue.
New Holland Police arrived and observed a hot air balloon that had been carrying 3 people, including the pilot. All 3 of the people were injured. The injured included 55 year old male pilot, Robert Fisher (Honey Brook, PA) a 53 year old male passenger, Robert Spencer (Eldersburg, MD) and a 48 year old female passenger, Melyndia Davis (Sykesville, MD).
All 3 people were transported to Lancaster General Hospital and later transferred to Chest Crozer Hospital. Fisher and Spencer are listed in stable condition. Davis is currently listed in critical, but stable condition.
An initial investigation shows that the pilot had landed the balloon in a hayfield.
While the air was being released from the top of the balloon, the balloon blew over top of power lines.
The 3 people in the balloon suffered injuries from electrical shock. No one on the ground was injured.
The FAA was notified and will be conducting an investigation into the incident. Emergency services on scene included Garden Spot Fire Rescue, New Holland Ambulance, Ephrata Ambulance and Wellspan Ephrata Community Hospital Medic units.
From NBC News: Since 1964, the National Transportation Safety Board has investigated 775 hot air balloon incidents in the United States, 70 involving fatalities. Sixteen people died while hot air ballooning from 2002 to 2012, the NTSB said.
“People have been flying hot air balloons safely, since 1783 to be exact, long before the Wright Brother’s first successful powered flight in 1903,” air safety expert Carl Holden told USA Today last year.
While experts stress the safety of flying, some of the most deadliest hot air ballooning accidents have occurred in recent years.
The deadliest occurred in February 2013, when a hot air balloon caught fire while floating over Luxor, Egypt, killing 19 of the 21 on board.
In 2012, a hot air balloon hit a power line in New Zealand and burst into flames, killing 11 people. In 2008, a balloon caught fire in Phoenixville, Pa., killing 4 passengers.
All hot air balloons operated in the U.S. must be inspected annually or every 100 hours of flight time if operated commercially, according to Federal Aviation Administration rules. Hot air balloon pilots are required to successfully complete a flight review every two years.
(Photo source: WMUR)
