FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH FATALITIES AND INJURIES FROM HOT-AIR BALLOON CRASHES

Context.-Despite the increased popularity of hot-air balloon flight, d ata on injuries and fatalities associated with hot-air balloon crashes are limited. Objective.-To determine factors associated with injury a nd death in hot-air balloon crashes, Design.-Retrospective review of d ata collected from reports and investigations by the Civil Aeronautics Board and the National Transportation Safety Board. Study Subjects.-I ndividuals involved in US hot-air balloon crashes from 1964 to 1995. M ain Outcome Measures.-Total number of crashes and factors associated w ith fatality or serious injury. Results.-Form 1964 to 1995, a total of 495 hot-air balloon crashes involving 1533 persons were reported and included 92 fatalities and 384 serious injuries. Pilot error or incapa citation was determined subjectively by crash investigators to contrib ute to 85.1% of the crashes. In univariate analysis, collision with th e ground was the most significant predictor of a fatality or serious i njury (P<.001), and power-line contact was the most significant predic tor of fatality (P<.001). In multiple logistic regression, only the ty pe of object struck by a balloon predicted a fatal crash or a fatality or serious injury. Conclusions.-Although a number of factors likely c ontribute to increased seventy of hot-air balloon crashes, the object struck during a crash is most predictive of fatality or serious injury . Preventive efforts are needed to decrease future injuries.