On Saturday 28 October 2000, Balloons over Taupo Cameron A-180 hot air balloon ZK-FAS was on a local flight near Taupo with 7 passengers and one crew when an unanticipated wind increase necessitated a prompt landing. During the landing approach the pilot endeavoured to extend the flight path over a power line which he had seen at a late stage. The balloon basket struck and broke the 3 wires of the power line before landing in the next paddock. There were no injuries and no damage to the balloon.
The incident resulted from the pilot’s late sighting of the power line, which probably resulted from his not moving to get an unobstructed view ahead, and some preoccupation with the landing approach in the windy conditions.
Safety issues identified include flying earlier in the day, and the selection of launch sites in the Taupo region to enable more landing options.
