NTSB: Poor Pilot Decisions Led To Fatal Balloon Crash

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A commercial balloon pilot’s “pattern of poor decision-making” led to his balloon striking power lines and then crashing to the ground in Texas in July 2016, killing all 16 on board, the NTSB concluded in its final report, issued on Tuesday. It was the deadliest balloon crash in U.S. history. Contributing to the accident were the pilot’s medical conditions and medications that likely affected his decision-making, the board said. Alfred “Skip” Nichols, 49, the owner of Heart of Texas Balloons and the pilot on the day of the accident, had Valium, oxycodone and the antihistamine Benadryl in his system on the day of the crash, the board said. The combined effect was enough to mimic “the impairing effect of a blood-alcohol level” of a drunk driver, said Dr. Nicholas Webster, a medical officer with the NTSB.

“The pilot’s poor decisions were his and his alone,” said Robert Sumwalt, NTSB chairman. “But other decisions within government, dating back decades, enabled his poor decision to fly with impairing medical conditions, while using medications that should have grounded him.” The board said the FAA should require commercial balloon operators to carry an aviation medical certificate. Had a medical certificate been required, the board said, the FAA also would have had an opportunity to identify Nichols’ history of drug- and alcohol-related traffic offenses. Nichols was being treated by a psychiatrist for depression and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and had been prescribed 13 medications.

The NTSB also concluded Nichols should have cancelled the sightseeing flight because of deteriorating weather conditions and, once in the air, should not have climbed above the clouds. His decision to then attempt to land in reduced visibility conditions diminished his ability to see and avoid obstacles. The boardalso called on the FAA to find better ways to provide oversight of balloon operators. “Today’s recommendations, if acted on, will help to bring the safety standards closer to those that apply to powered flight,” Sumwalt said. “Balloon pilots, their passengers, and their passengers’ loved ones deserve no less.” The abstract of the NTSB’s final report (PDF) is posted online. The complete text of the final report will be released publicly later this week. The webcast of the board meeting will be available online for 90 days.

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