Federal Authorities Finish Investigation of Rochester Hot Air Balloon Crash
Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- Federal authorities have completed their investigation of a hot air balloon crash that happened in Rochester earlier this year.
Read More: Sparks Fly in Rochester Hot Air Balloon Accident
The National Transportation Safety Board was tasked with investigating the March 20 crash. Two passengers and the pilot were riding in the basket attached to the balloon.
MnDOT traffic cameras captured the balloon hitting a set of power lines and sparks flying in the air along Hwy. 63 in the area of 40th St. South.
Rochester firefighters responded to the scene to put out a 100-by-100-foot grass fire. The Rochester Police Department said the balloon detached from the basket, which fell 20 to 30 feet.
Two people suffered what were described as minor injuries. The NTSB report indicates the collision with the powerlines snapped 12 of the 16 cables that attach the balloon to the basket.
The strain on the four remaining cables caused them to snap and disconnected the balloon from the basket. The pilot, described as a 67-year-old with 852 hours of flying experience, reported the balloon did not have any other mechanical issues.
The federal report concludes the accident was caused by, “the pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines while landing in a field.”
One of the passengers and the pilot suffered what the report describes as minor injuries.
Officials say the powerline collision occurred just over 15 minutes after the balloon departed in Rochester. The names of the pilot and passengers have not been released.
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Gallery Credit: Minnesota Now
