Is hot-air ballooning safe? Yes. More or less ...

Is hot-air ballooning safe? Yes.

It’s as safe as climbing a mountain, going on a charter-fishing trip or driving a car. In other words, the safety depends on the skill and judgment of the operator, the quality of the equipment and the weather, as well has having luck that prevents unforeseen occurrences.

Sixteen people died Saturday in a hot-air balloon crash in Texas — the worst-such crash in U.S. history.

As with vehicle wrecks, the term “crash” is more accurate than “accident,” because most such events are preventable and not accidental. A driver reduces her risk by keep her brakes and tires in good condition and by making left-turns at stoplights instead of trying to cut through busy cross-traffic. Besides keeping his equipment in tip-top condition, a balloonist cuts his risk by canceling or ending a flight if the weather or other conditions turn sour.

That can mean disappointing potential passengers and losing out on their fares. For a balloonist who makes his living by selling rides, that could be a tough call.

Weather dictates safety

I know. As a former hot-air ballooning safety instructor and longtime safety officer, I occasionally was the person who grounded balloons if the Mid-Valley weather was too dicey.

I should hasten to note that few balloonists questioned my decisions. They had no desire to unduly risk themselves, let alone their passengers.

I have no first-hand knowledge of what happened in the Texas crash, although news reports indicate that the hot-air balloon hit power lines. Electrical lines and balloons are a terrible mix, often a fiery one.

Having flown dozens of times in the Pacific Northwest, I was always picky about the pilot. Most I trusted. A few I avoided, including one whose life ended when he hit power lines in the Willamette Valley.

Although I decided not to become a pilot, I went through the training, I flew many hours as a student pilot, and I had the confidence I could handle the balloon in an emergency.

But what about members of the buying public, who often are choosing a balloon company based on convenience and price?

Caution pays off

Ask lots of questions. Do your research, and then trust your gut. If something seems hinky, it’s better to lose your deposit than your life.

I liken it to when our family once went whale watching off northeastern Vancouver Island. I wanted the most cautious, most careful boat operator — not the one who would guarantee we would see whales.

We lucked out in our choice. As a storm came up, the operator turned back to port and had us don survival suits just in case. We returned safely, and we re-arranged our vacation itinerary so we could return the next day for an entertaining whale-watching trip with that same operator on calm seas.

Other whale-watching operators had waited too long that day; they and their passengers were stranded in remote coves until the storm passed.

Watching the weather and being willing to turn back were lessons I first learned in mountaineering as a Boy Scout. We were 1,000 feet from the summit of Mount Baker in Washington when our scoutmaster, an experienced mountaineer, had us turn back because of the deteriorating weather.

Similarly, our family was careful during vacations in the Southwest to get down from mountain peaks and out of river beds before noon. Even if the forecasts didn’t call for mountain lightning or flash floods, they could happen anyway — and were more likely after noon.

Remember, we don’t know whether weather was a factor in the Texas balloon crash. Possibilities include pilot error in not landing sooner, an equipment problem, passenger error that distracted the pilot or affected the balloon operation, or a medical condition, although I have not heard that last one mentioned.

Balance the risks

Adventure sports are risky. That is why participants sign waivers that, if people actually read them, would dissuade almost anyone.

But as with the rest of life, the challenge is to lessen the risks to an acceptable level.

Would I go hot-air ballooning again? Absolutely — with the right pilot, the right equipment and the right conditions.

Dick Hughes was a longtime crew member and crew chief, safety officer, certified safety instructor and rally organizer for hot air ballooning in the Pacific Northwest.

He is a content coach, editorial page editor and a columnist for the Statesman Journal. His Connecting the Dots column runs on Sundays.Contact him at dhughes@StatesmanJournal.com; P.O. Box 13009, Salem, OR 97309; or (503) 399-6727.