NTSB Factual Report

On March 12, 2016 about 0900 eastern standard time, a Balloon Works Firefly 8B-15 balloon, N3180S, landed hard in a field in Rock Hill, South Carolina. The pilot and one passenger were not injured. A second passenger sustained serious injuries during the landing sequence. The balloon was registered to Eagle's Wings Hot Air Balloons LLC of Rock Hill, and operated by the pilot, as a day, visual flight rules, passenger flight under 14 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight originated from private property in Rock Hill, and was conducted in the local area.

According to the pilot, after clearing trees during the approach to a field, a wind gust and downdraft caused a hard landing. One passenger was thrown into the second passenger, impacting her leg with his knee. The second passenger sustained serious injury. The pilot reported that for the landing sequence, both passengers were instructed to put their feet and knees together, slightly bend their knees, and hold onto two places in the basket.

The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the balloon prior to the flight that would have resulted in abnormal operation of the balloon. The balloon sustained no damage.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

The closest weather reporting station to the accident site was Rock Hill-York County Airport (UZA), about 5.5 nautical miles to the northeast, which reported about 6 minutes prior to the time of the accident, that the wind was 3 knots from 110 degrees.

The pilot reported that the wind condition at the accident site was 5 knots from 110 degrees.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Landing and Passenger Securement

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has published the Balloon Flying Handbook FAA-H-8083-11A (2008). This handbook discusses the various aspects of landing a balloon and states in part:

In any branch of aviation, takeoff and landing are the most critical maneuvers. In ballooning, landing is number one. The vast majority of ballooning accidents and injuries occur on landing.

The leading factor in accidents is wind. Highly variable surface winds often speed up, slow down, stop, turn, and even go backward.

This handbook also discusses passenger securement during the landing and states in part:

Up to this point, the typical balloon flight has been relatively gentle, and most passengers are not mentally prepared for the shock that can occur when a 7,000 pound balloon contacts the ground. Passengers should be reminded to hold on tight. The pilot should advise the passengers of correct places to hold, whether they are factory-built passenger handles or places in the balloon's basket the pilot considers appropriate.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s inadequate compensation for wind, which resulted in the balloon landing hard and a passenger sustaining a serious injury.