Cell phones from hot air balloon crash headed to feds

More evidence is being collected from the scene of a deadly hot air balloon crash.

National Transportation Safety Board investigators are sending 14 personal electronic devices to Washington for analysis after they were recovered from the crash site of a hot air balloon in Central Texas, not far from Austin.

NTSB member Robert Sumwalt says ground crew members will be interviewed starting today.

Evidence shows some part of the hot air balloon made contact with high-tension power lines before crashing into a central Texas pasture, killing all 16 on board, said federal authorities who are investigating the worst such disaster in U.S. history.

Sumwalt  says a power line was tripped at 7:42 a.m. Saturday, and the first call to 911 came a minute later.

The crash site was near a row of high-tension power lines, and aerial photos showed an area of scorched land underneath.

Sumwalt also says the Caldwell County Sheriff told him it was foggy after the accident, which happened about 30 miles south of Austin, but it's unclear what the weather was like during the flight itself.

The pilot was 49-year-old Skip Nichol.

Alan Lirette identified Nichols as his best friend, roommate and boss.

Records indicate that the apparent pilot was federally certified to fly balloons.