The pilot who led last week’s doomed hot air balloon flight in Caldwell County, Texas had a history of poor flying and lack of insurance coverage.
All 16 people aboard the balloon, including the pilot, were killed in the crash Saturday when part of the hot air balloon hit power lines and went down in pastureland south of Austin. National Transportation Safety Board officials gathered to examine the crash and determine the cause of the fire that broke out on the balloon.
A spokesman said investigators are trying to “nail down as best we can” whether fog may have been a factor, and whether the fire occurred before or after the collision.
In the aftermath, details are emerging that offer little hope to victims’ families.
The pilot, Alfred “Skip” Nichols, had a history of piloting balloons without insurance coverage. He was sued by a customer following a July 2009 flight in which Nichols crash-landed in a forest. He was not covered by insurance, however, when the case was ultimately settled and he continued with little money and few assets throughout his career.
Reporters have also discovered that Nichols had multiple charges for driving while intoxicated, including a felony DWI charge in 2007 (though it was reduced to misdemeanor later). The police also arrested him for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute in 1999.
Nichols also spent time in jail, according to a KXAN report, after being stripped of his driver’s license.
It is unclear whether Nichols’ lack of insurance was related to his risk profile, as viewed by carriers, or his own lack of funds.
According to hot air balloon pilot Steve Lombardi, it takes 20 hours to obtain an FAA license – 35 to fly commercially – and many more to secure insurance coverage.
“I would say hours is a good magic number,” he told KHOU.
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