NTSB Factual Report

On May 3, 2008, about 0720 mountain standard time, a Cameron Balloons C-100, N6004K, received minor damage following a hard landing near Phoenix, Arizona. The certificated private pilot and one passenger received minor injuries, one passenger received a serious injury, and one passenger was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight, which was operated in accordance with 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91, and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed from a location about 3 miles east of the landing site at 0620.

In a statement submitted by the pilot, it was reported that during the approach to landing, the balloon's rate of descent was about 300 feet per minute (fpm). The pilot stated that about 200 feet above ground level (agl) he encountered a very strong wind shear, which caused the balloon to rapidly accelerate to 25 to 30 knots in the descent. The pilot reported that as the approach continued he managed to get enough heat into the balloon to avoid a hard vertical landing; however, the balloon was descending at 200 to 300 fpm during touchdown, moving horizontally at 25 to 30 knots. The pilot noted that after touching down the balloon's basket immediately tilted over and began dragging. The pilot stated, "The first 75 yards were [a] textbook, high wind landing; everyone was low in the basket. Then we moved into rocky ground and continued to drag for another 100 to 125 yards, with one passenger getting his arm stuck between the basket and the ground. The chase crew was only 20 to 40 seconds away." The pilot reported minor damage to the balloon, and that no anomalies existed with the balloon prior to the flight.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's inadequate weather evaluation during the landing approach. Contributing to the accident were windshear and rocky terrain.