A ballooning accident with multiple fatalities

On 13 August 1989 a fully laden commercially operated balloon carrying 12 passengers and a pilot was involved in a midair collision with another balloon, just north of Alice Springs. The collision resulted in the balloon sustaining a major tear of the envelope. Rapid deflation of the envelope led to an approximately 600 metre fall to the desert floor, with the basket partially disintegrating on impact. With one exception, the occupants were found still within the basket at the accident site. Full autopsies were performed on all occupants. The autopsies revealed a marked similarity in the injury patterns. Facial soft tissue and skeletal trauma was severe, associated with anterior third skull base fracture. A high incidence of perineal lacerations and pelvic burst fractures were present with relatively few spinal fractures. An unusual form of brain stem and spinal cord trauma was identified. The injuries sustained to feet, ankles, and legs were of the pattern associated with vertical decelerative force. The injury pattern is described and interpreted with reference to the basket of the balloon and the form of impact.