What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) As balloon approached it touchdown point, pilot pulled the ripcord to allow hot gases to escape the envelope. The ripcord broke and the basket touched down, tipped over and spilled its occupants on the ground. Envelope sustained minor damage during attempted deflation. The incident was reported to NTSB by the repair station because the ripcord is considered to be a balloon flight control. privacy data omitted The ripcord was forwarded to NTSB for further testing.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) AS BALLOON APPROACHED IT TOUCHDOWN POINT, PILOT PULLED THE RIPCORD TO ALLOW HOT GASES TO ESCAPE THE ENVELOPE. THE RIPCORD BROKE AND THE BASKET TOUCHED DOWN, TIPPED OVER AND SPILLED ITS OCCUPANTS ON THE GROUND. ENVELOPE SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE DURING ATTEMPTED DEFLATION. THE INCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO NTSB BY THE REPAIR STATION BECAUSE THE RIPCORD IS CONSIDERED TO BE A BALLOON FLIGHT CONTROL. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ THE RIPCORD WAS FORWARDED TO NTSB FOR FURTHER TESTING.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.