NTSB Factual Report

On May 15, 2001, at 0745 mountain daylight time, an Aerostar RX-8 balloon, N4031A sustained minor damage during a hard landing at Sterling, Colorado. The private pilot received serious injuries, and her passengers minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this local area flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plan was filed. The flight departed at 0700.

According to the pilot, during approach for landing in a flat farm field, the balloon descended faster than planned due to a temperature change and increased winds. When the basket struck the ground, the pilot was thrown partially out and after a bounce the basket struck the ground again causing the pilot to be thrown completely out. The pilot said that one passenger then jumped out of the basket and she (the pilot) held on to the vent line. Due to the decrease in weight, the balloon ascended and the pilot let go of the vent line. The balloon continued to fly with one passenger (not a pilot) aboard. The crew chief talked the passenger through the process and the balloon was landed by the passenger.

The balloon sustained pyrometer cable damage during the event.

NTSB Probable Cause

failure by the pilot to control descent rate during approach to land. A factor was a temperature inversion.