Balloon hit power lines coming in for landing.

Attributes
ACN	112403
Time
Date	198905
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : x51
State Reference	FL
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 50
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	landing other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	other other : other
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 35 flight time total : 800
ASRS Report	112403
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was a participant in a hot air balloon race in homestead, fl. A convergent navigational task was called for, pilots discretion to fly. We received WX briefing from the balloonmeister and made decision to fly. There were 2 occupants in the balloon (1 pilot and 1 crew member). On attempted landing balloon draped over utility lines (lines connected consecutive street lights, 220 volt). The weight of the envelope caused the line to break. There was no damage to property or anyone's health, nor was there a threat to anyone's safety. Lines are extremely hard to see, better identification markings and/or colorization is needed especially if an event is to be held.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BALLOON HIT POWER LINES COMING IN FOR LNDG.

Narrative: I WAS A PARTICIPANT IN A HOT AIR BALLOON RACE IN HOMESTEAD, FL. A CONVERGENT NAVIGATIONAL TASK WAS CALLED FOR, PLTS DISCRETION TO FLY. WE RECEIVED WX BRIEFING FROM THE BALLOONMEISTER AND MADE DECISION TO FLY. THERE WERE 2 OCCUPANTS IN THE BALLOON (1 PLT AND 1 CREW MEMBER). ON ATTEMPTED LNDG BALLOON DRAPED OVER UTILITY LINES (LINES CONNECTED CONSECUTIVE STREET LIGHTS, 220 VOLT). THE WEIGHT OF THE ENVELOPE CAUSED THE LINE TO BREAK. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO PROPERTY OR ANYONE'S HEALTH, NOR WAS THERE A THREAT TO ANYONE'S SAFETY. LINES ARE EXTREMELY HARD TO SEE, BETTER IDENTIFICATION MARKINGS AND/OR COLORIZATION IS NEEDED ESPECIALLY IF AN EVENT IS TO BE HELD.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.