NTSB Factual Report

The pilot was participating with about eight other balloons in an early morning mass ascension. After a flight of about 45 minutes, while approaching to land, the pilot observed that the wind had increased and he determined that a “high-wind landing” would be necessary. His two passengers had not been involved in a balloon flight before and he instructed both of them how they should hold on tightly, and that they should face forward with their feet pointed straight ahead with their knees bent to absorb the shock of the landing. He also advised them that the basket would likely tip over on its side during the landing. The pilot touched down onto a flat harvested alfalfa field, bounced, and touched down a second time. The pilot reported his ground speed was then about 13 to 14 miles per hour. During the second touchdown the basket tipped over and was dragged about 100 feet coming to rest on its side in an adjacent cornfield. The pilot deflated the balloon envelope and the three occupants began to climb out of the basket. A 70-year old passenger reported pain in her ankle and was transported to the hospital for treatment of a broken ankle. The balloon was not damaged. The pilot said he thought the reason for the passenger’s injury was probably because the passenger did not have her feet pointed straight ahead during one or more of the touchdown events.

NTSB Probable Cause

The balloon pilot’s encounter with increased wind during landing, which resulted in a hard landing and a passenger’s injury.