What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-16) On September 21, 1996, Mr. Frank l. gallegos operated avian balloon, magnum ix, N2006W, as pilot in command on a commercial, sightseeing flight with six passengers in the basket. After landing N2006W at sunset, Mr. Gallegos decided to make another takeoff after allegedly being threatened by an irate landowner. At approximately 1955 CDT, 38 minutes after sunset, Mr. Gallegos hit a tree with the balloon basket during a landing approach and then abruptly hit the ground resulting in a broken ankle to one passenger. There was no damag to the balloon basket or envelope. This is a final submisstion of this report.
As the FAA filed it
(-16) ON SEPTEMBER 21, 1996, MR. FRANK L. GALLEGOS OPERATED AVIAN BALLOON, MAGNUM IX, N2006W, AS PILOT IN COMMAND ON A COMMERCIAL, SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT WITH SIX PASSENGERS IN THE BASKET. AFTER LANDING N2006W AT SUNSET, MR. GALLEGOS DECIDED TO MAKE ANOTHER TAKEOFF AFTER ALLEGEDLY BEING THREATENED BY AN IRATE LANDOWNER. AT APPROXIMATELY 1955 CDT, 38 MINUTES AFTER SUNSET, MR. GALLEGOS HIT A TREE WITH THE BALLOON BASKET DURING A LANDING APPROACH AND THEN ABRUPTLY HIT THE GROUND RESULTING IN A BROKEN ANKLE TO ONE PASSENGER. THERE WAS NO DAMAG TO THE BALLOON BASKET OR ENVELOPE. THIS IS A FINAL SUBMISSTION OF THIS REPORT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.