Woman Falls To Death From Hot Air Balloon

California Woman Dies After Basket Tips During New Mexico Balloon Fiesta

(AP)  The basket of a hot air balloon tipped after the craft got stuck, sending a woman on a 60- to 70-foot fall to her death Monday, state police said.

The balloon snagged a fiber-optic line running above a power line about 8 a.m. during an annual balloon festival. The pilot threw down a tether to a pickup truck on the ground to reel the balloon down and free it, state police spokesman Andrew Tingwall said.

But the tether broke, and the balloon flew back up, causing its gondola to tip and the woman to fall to the ground, Tingwall said.

Paramedics tried to revive the woman, Rosemary Wooley Phillips, 60, of California, in a dirt field where she fell, but were unsuccessful, he said. The balloon, meanwhile, flew across a road near Interstate 25 and crash landed, Tingwall said.

Phillips was one of five people on board. Tingwall did not know the conditions of the other three passengers or the pilot.

The crash site is about three miles from the launch site for the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, a nine-day event that began Saturday and features mass ascensions of balloons, events for special-shaped balloons and competitions for pilots.

At the launch field, balloonists expressed condolences for the victim's family.

"It puts a bit of a cloud over the fiesta," said pilot Chris Hinde of Rugby, England, flying in Albuquerque for the 10th year. "People always ask if we should keep going. We made the decision not to fly today after we heard the news."

One woman was killed during the 1998 event when a balloon plowed into two sets of power lines before plummeting about 30 feet to the ground at Kirtland Air Force Base on Albuquerque's south side.

During the 1993 fiesta, two men were killed when their balloon hit power lines, severing the gondola, which plunged about 90 feet to the ground. Two other men died during the 1990 fiesta when their balloon crashed into power lines and burst into flames.

Four people died and five were injured during the 1982 fiesta when propane tanks on a large balloon exploded.

Balloonists, however, say such fatalities are rare and that their sport is not particularly dangerous.

"It's no riskier than driving a car," said pilot Anthony Haynes of Houston. "It's a sad thing when it happens. But when you see a car accident, you don't stop driving."

[thgdriver]

crzmeat

I never said they should be prevented from their thrill seeking agenda. I really don''t give a damm. It''s when others who have nothing whatever to do with it, have loved ones lost as a result. This balloon could have easily injured or killed others just driving by. Plus emergency responders put their lives in danger responding to the foolishness and this is usually paid for by the tax paying public.

[Krazcarl]

thgdriver what is wrong with your mind some people like to explore the boundries of life it makes life more presious to them and I for one love to hear thier tales.

[thgdriver]

Paramedics tried to revive the woman, Rosemary Wooley Phillips, 60, of California, in a dirt field where she fell, but were unsuccessful, he said. The balloon, meanwhile, flew across a road near Interstate 25 and crash landed, Tingwall said.

I hope the ballooning promoters had insurance to pay for the health responders and cleanup.

They get the "thrills" and the taxpayer gets the bills!

[thgdriver]

Are you not asking for trouble when you bungee cord jump, sky dive, mountain climb, boating when a known storm is coming, the list is endless. She and others who do this are asking for trouble. I am glad nobody innocently driving or walking on the road near Interstate 25 were killed or injured as a result of her and others foolishness.

said pilot Anthony Haynes of Houston. "It''s a sad thing when it happens. But when you see a car accident, you don''t stop driving."
Thats true but because of the lack of mass transit I have to drive to work to make a living. Doing this "daredevel" bull shi! is not the same thing at all! Compairing the two is ignorent on Haynes part.

[aerodog]

vbnvbn:

you''re hateful

[aerodog]

As beautiful as they are and I''m sure the scenery is awesome, my family will NEVER have to worry about my getting into one of those things.

[ladyephesus1]

What a traumatic thing to experience.
Im sure the others in the balloon will need counseling. May she rest in peace.

[ez-one]

the joke was kinda tacky and tasteless, but it was pretty good

[Krazcarl]

vbnvbn...That was not funny funny a lady fell to her death what is wrong with you I''ll throw you out of a balloon and see how many sick jokes you make. Very poor taste you troll.

[speakinup]

Bush did it. His spooks, that were associated with Nazis sent in a fake balloon, and dumped that poor Democrat right on her head. He should be shot AND impeached. Not only that, if asked about it, he will lie.

yup - and that''s the truth! So help me, Hillary!