US safety investigators in central Texas have begun gathering evidence into what caused the crash of a hot air balloon that killed 16 people after it hit a power line and plummeted to the ground in flames.
The balloon crashed on Saturday into a pasture near Lockhart, about 30 miles south of Austin, killing all aboard. It was the deadliest crash ever involving a hot air balloon in the Western Hemisphere, according to the Balloon Federation of North America.
Robert Sumwalt, heading the National Transportation Safety Board's investigation, said the balloon struck high-voltage power lines crossing the pasture. However, it has yet to be determined whether the fire started before or after it struck the wires. The balloon took off about 20 minutes late, and investigators want to know why.
The balloon was operated by Heart of Texas Hot Air Balloon Rides, based in New Braunfels. The company's chief pilot and owner, Alfred 'Skip' Nichols, died in the crash, according to a recorded telephone message. Friends and family confirmed that Paige Brabson and her mother, Lorilee Brabson, are among the dead.
Investigators have recovered cameras, iPads and mobile phones belonging to those on board. Most devices were damaged, but investigators hope to extract information. The NTSB recommended greater oversight of the hot air balloon industry two years ago, Sumwalt noted.
