Posted on 07/30/2016 11:53:28 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper
Sixteen people died this morning when a large hot air balloon struck a high-voltage power line, caught fire and crashed in a pasture near Lockhart, Texas, according to Texas authorities and the Federal Aviation Administration said.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
Dang, makes you wonder if they were electrocuted first, or burned to death before impact, or died on impact on fire.
What a horrible way to go....RIP
I was in the middle of a pasture where 20 horses were grazing — went out to get my own horse — when a hot air balloon flew over. The horses stampeded, but miraculously all veered around me and somehow I survived. I am so heart sick about these poor people. What a bizarre and sickeningly freaky thing to happen.
I remember hearing of a doctor who got his hands badly burned in a similar event.
About 30 or so years ago, I saw a small one crash from altitude at a balloon fest in Louisiana when the top panel blew out. I got a series of three shots as it deflated and came down. I wonder if I still have those around somewhere.
In any event, I’m not going up in one of those things unless it’s the only way to escape to freedom.
Apparently, not an uncommon event, although this list includes small planes and helicopters, as well. https://retasite.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/airplane-helicopter-and-hot-air-balloon-accidents-due-to-overhead-power-lines.pdf
There are commercial balloons that can carry quite a load. Unfortunately, those types tend to go up even when conditions are not all that favorable. If there was even a hint of a storm getting anywhere near this area that could have caused some winds, the pilot should have refused to launch.
Not sure this is accurate. Look at pic on Drudge, it is falling from above the power lines. Looks like it might have exploded much higher.
Unfortunately for those foolish people, they have performed their last item of their “bucket list”.
Just damn! As Texans, we are as strong as anyone. It would be nice, however, if the cosmos, universe, whatever would just take a powder and leave our state alone for a bit. I know I am b*tching, but it has been a rough July.
I still think these guys were crazy.
You have to wonder at the competence of the balloon operator deciding to fly near high power lines. I am sure the passengers were told it was all safe, but......
Our Texas is a big state, so we are likely to have more ‘incidents’ than, say, Arkansas or Kansas. I don’t know why I had to write this.
And somehow, for some odd reason, I started thinking about West.
Oh my gosh, what a terrible way to go.
Well aren’t you the brave one. LOL.
Guys that did the ride in Arizona were from England. They picked us up at the hotel at 4 a.m. in a limo. Went up just as the sun was coming up. At the end they had breakfast set up for us in a very remote area in the desert. Eggs Benedict, orange mimosas, white linen table cloth, fine china dishes and linen napkins. Really spectacular and impressive. Lots of pics and a framed certificate attesting to our ride.
Sounds beautiful, I bet it cost you a pretty penny as they say.
according to Texas authorities and the Federal Aviation Administration said.
Does the word "said" belong at the end?
Whatever happened to proofreaders?
Ascended once at the Perris Valley in CA with a group from work. One of consultants had his own balloon, and we served as his crew. Lot of fun (and work), and the early morning peacefulness floating above the valley was amazing. Competent pilot, with his wife & a friend as the chase team. After we had landed, packed up, and returned to the launch site, we were treated to a tradirional champagne toast, plus given aeronaut certificates. Am a former carrier Naval Aviator, so it was enjoyable for me. Would be a bit leery of the hot air balloon ride companies; occasionally have incidents with them in SoCal.
Me either.
Probably did cost a lot. Don’t remember. Took my grandson who was 13 at the time and two years after his mother - my daughter - died. Building memories and doing special things with him has always been worth whatever it took. He’s 25 now and remembers all the things we did together, including the time we went bungee jumping off a bridge in northern California. I never opened my eyes the entire time. He loved it and wanted to go again - Granny not so much.
My Grandsons are a special commodity. And God allowed me to have two of the best to be found. Great kids, good students, polite, well behaved, politically conservative and active in their churches.
Somebody (O’Bama?) somewhere (DC?) is figuring out a way to ban high capacity gondolas.
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