| Crash location | 38.290833°N, 122.624167°W |
| Nearest city | Petaluma, CA
38.232417°N, 122.636652°W 4.1 miles away |
| Tail number | N3647A |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 13 Feb 2016 |
| Aircraft type | Aerostar International RX8 |
| Additional details: | None |
On February 13, 2016, about 0830 Pacific standard time, an Aerostar International Inc. RX-8 hot air balloon, N3647A, impacted a fence during an approach to a field in Petaluma, California. The balloon was owned and operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules, revenue sightseeing flight under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 when the accident occurred. The pilot and two passengers were not injured, and one child passenger sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight.
In a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge, the pilot stated that he was making an approach to a field for landing at the end of the sightseeing flight. During the approach, he misjudged the wind, and the balloon was blown near a pipe fence, striking the fence with the basket. A child passenger, who was sitting down in the basket, sustained serious injuries during the event. After striking the fence, the balloon landed safely on an adjacent road. The balloon sustained minor damage.
The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind during the landing approach, which resulted in the balloon’s basket impacting a metal fence and a passenger sustaining serious injuries.