Hot-air Balloon Tours:Hot-air Balloon Tours:Crash Epidemiology in the U.S., 2000-2011Crash Epidemiology in the U.S., 2000-2011

Sarah-Blythe Ballard, MD, MPHLCDR MC(FS/FMF) USN

The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthUnited States Navy

Co-Authors from the Johns Hopkins Co-Authors from the Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and PolicyCenter for Injury Research and Policy

Leland P. BeatyLeland P. Beaty Susan P. Baker, ScD (Hon.), MPHSusan P. Baker, ScD (Hon.), MPH

• This research was supported by grants from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH)

• We have no commercial conflicts of interest to disclose

• I will not discuss off-label or investigational use in this presentation

Background Background

Purpose - to examine the risk factors for Purpose - to examine the risk factors for injury and death in crashes of hot-air injury and death in crashes of hot-air balloon ridesballoon rides

Obtained crash reports from NTSB for Obtained crash reports from NTSB for time period of Jan ‘00 through Dec ‘11time period of Jan ‘00 through Dec ‘11

FindingsFindings

78 reported crashes 78 reported crashes over the 12-year period over the 12-year period involving involving 519 occupants519 occupants

55 fatal, fatal, 9191 serious, and serious, and 9191 minor injuries minor injuries

65 of the crashes (65 of the crashes (83%83%)) resulted in at least resulted in at least one serious or fatal injury*one serious or fatal injury*

*vs 32% of helicopter or airplane commercial air tour crashes resulting in at least one serious or fatal injury

Albuquerque

Balloon Ride Crash SitesBalloon Ride Crash Sites

Time of YearTime of Year

Month

# Crashes

Fixed Object CollisionsFixed Object Collisions

50% 50% of serious of serious injuries (46/91)injuries (46/91)

5 of 5 deaths 5 of 5 deaths

So, a major factor So, a major factor in balloon ride in balloon ride crash outcomescrash outcomes

Power Line StrikesPower Line Strikes

““Burning”- flying aboveBurning”- flying above 25% resulted in fatalities25% resulted in fatalities 46% resulted in serious injuries46% resulted in serious injuries

““Ripping”- landing belowRipping”- landing below No fatal crashes!No fatal crashes! 30% resulted in serious injury30% resulted in serious injury

* Aerostar International, Technically Speaking. May/June 1988.

Phase of FlightPhase of Flight

Nature of Serious InjuriesNature of Serious Injuries

The Bottom LineThe Bottom Line

In balloon ride crashes, the incidence of serious In balloon ride crashes, the incidence of serious injuries is highinjuries is high

Some risk factors for serious and fatal outcomes Some risk factors for serious and fatal outcomes are modifiableare modifiable

Major recommendationsMajor recommendations Improve training for balloon ride pilotsImprove training for balloon ride pilots Improve object strike outcomes (esp. power lines)Improve object strike outcomes (esp. power lines) Reduce landing-associated injuriesReduce landing-associated injuries

Thank you

Egypt, 27 February 2013Egypt, 27 February 2013

Objects Strikes in Crashes Resulting Objects Strikes in Crashes Resulting in Serious or Fatal Injuryin Serious or Fatal Injury

InjuryInjury

Collision w/Collision w/#Fatal#Fatal #Serious#Serious

TreeTree 11 2222

TerrainTerrain 11 99

Power linePower line 22 55

MultipleMultiple 00 55

BuildingBuilding 11 22

FenceFence 00 33

TotalTotal 55 4646

Primary Pilot ErrorPrimary Pilot Error100% of Fatal & 90% of Serious Injuries100% of Fatal & 90% of Serious Injuries

InjuryInjury

Collision w/Collision w/#Fatal#Fatal #Serious#Serious

Excessive Rate of DescentExcessive Rate of Descent 11 3737

Failure to Maintain ClearanceFailure to Maintain Clearance 33 2020

Flight into Adverse WeatherFlight into Adverse Weather 11 66

OtherOther 00 77

NoneNone 00 1616

TotalTotal 55 9191

Aircraft Damage in Crashes Aircraft Damage in Crashes Resulting in Serious or Fatal InjuryResulting in Serious or Fatal Injury

*Ballard, Beaty, Baker. Accid Anal & Prev 2013

Fatal/SeriousHot-air Balloon

Rides

Fatal/SeriousHelicopter/Airplane

Tours*

DamageSubstantial/Destroyed

DamageSubstantial/Destroyed

Fatal Crashes (5)Fatal Crashes (5) DEN08LA004DEN08LA004 – – Gondola collided with power line, Gondola collided with power line,

broken drop line, passenger ejected (blunt trauma)broken drop line, passenger ejected (blunt trauma)

LAX02FA135LAX02FA135 – – Gondola collided with wall, Gondola collided with wall, passenger ejected (blunt trauma)passenger ejected (blunt trauma)

LAX05LA135LAX05LA135 – – Gondola impacted hilltop/peak Gondola impacted hilltop/peak (using 1 of 2 burners), fatal injury not described (using 1 of 2 burners), fatal injury not described

LAX07LA126LAX07LA126 – – Power lines hit basket, landing Power lines hit basket, landing bounce, pax ejected, basket landed on pax (blunt trauma)bounce, pax ejected, basket landed on pax (blunt trauma)

NYC08FA307NYC08FA307 – – Gondola hit trees, hard landing, Gondola hit trees, hard landing, rollover, pax ejected, pilot on fire (smoke inhal., burns) rollover, pax ejected, pilot on fire (smoke inhal., burns)