What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Passengers debarked. Balloon rose. One ground crew carried to 40FT AGL then fell 40FT to ground. (-23) on 12/06/97, approximately 0925 mountain standard time, a ground crew member was fatally injured while trying to secure N1063V, an Adams A55S, hot air balloon during landing. The balloon landed and four ground crewmembers held onto the basket while two passengers exited. The balloon began to ascend. One of the ground crewmembers was carried aloft and at approximately 40 feet fell from the balloon.
As the FAA filed it
PASSENGERS DEBARKED. BALLOON ROSE. ONE GROUND CREW CARRIED TO 40FT AGL THEN FELL 40FT TO GROUND. (-23) ON 12/06/97, APPROXIMATELY 0925 MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME, A GROUND CREW MEMBER WAS FATALLY INJURED WHILE TRYING TO SECURE N1063V, AN ADAMS A55S, HOT AIR BALLOON DURING LANDING. THE BALLOON LANDED AND FOUR GROUND CREWMEMBERS HELD ONTO THE BASKET WHILE TWO PASSENGERS EXITED. THE BALLOON BEGAN TO ASCEND. ONE OF THE GROUND CREWMEMBERS WAS CARRIED ALOFT AND AT APPROXIMATELY 40 FEET FELL FROM THE BALLOON.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.