title: Rare electrocution due to powerline contact in a hot-air balloon: comparison with fatalities from blunt trauma.
abstract: Powerline contact by hot-air balloons is one of the most frequent concurrences in balloon accidents resulting in injury or death. Injuries and deaths are usually a result of blunt trauma from falls. In this report, we describe the aircraft, the circumstances of the accidents and the autopsy data in two powerline contact accidents involving three deaths, one from electrocution and two, from blunt trauma sustained in falls. Appropriate pilot behavior is briefly discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico Medical Center.
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: McConnell
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Zumwalt
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wahe
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Haikal
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: McFeeley
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000060:Accidents, Aviation; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000401:Aircraft; D002423:Cause of Death; D004556:Electric Injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000473:pathology*; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000473:pathology*