Hot Air Balloon Tragedy Late 60's early 70's

Planemike.

Would that be Saltley in Birmingham?

Edited to add: Yes it was. Link to AAIB Report below:

http://www.aaib.dft.gov.uk/publications/formal_reports/3_1976__g_bccg.cfm

Regards,

kev35

A friend of mine who is knowledgeable in these things has provided the following info (sorry it has taken a while):-

Mike Adams and Mike Sparks were both killed in a balloon accident involving G-BCCG “Clark Lift” in Saltby, Birmingham on the 8th October 1974. Their deaths shocked the close-knit ballooning community and deprived it of two men of great promise, remembered for their warmth, enthusiasm and humour as well as for their achievements. Mike Adams was a gas Balloonmiester and a successful hot air balloon competitor. Mike Sparks was a keen amateur filmmaker and made two films about ballooning.

After the BBAC AGM in 1975 it was decided to introduce a trophy to commemorate Mike Adams and Mike Sparks. It was to be awarded annually to the “Pilot of the Year” who, between consecutive AGM’s, had given the most convincing demonstration of flying skill.

Planemike…………….

I tweaked the title of this thread slightly as it is in regards to an old crash.

I seem to remember a fatal accident in Harrow when i was a kid. A ballon got out of control and got away. A women got caught in the ropes or was hanging on but fell. Would have been late 70s early 80s. Cant seem to find anything online.

Peter

I cannot provide you with much information but do recollect an accident in Birmingham around that time and either one or two people were killed. I think they were the first ballooning related fatalities in Britain in modern times.

Planemike

I believe that AAIB accident reports of this vintage are now held by the National Archives at Kew. So I suspect that a trip to south west London offers the best hope of making progress in identifying this accident.