19991121035249I

Incident · Minor damage

FAA incident report · Galaxy GALAXY 7 · Drakef Branch, VA · November 21, 1999

Date: November 21, 1999 · 10:40 local
Place: Drakef Branch, VA
Phase of flight: Descent
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Minor damage
Aircraft: N5343Q
Reported as: Galaxy GALAXY7
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 123 total23 in this make and model15 in the last 90 days

N5343QRegistration cancelled Jul 18, 2008 · Galaxy Balloons GALAXY 7S/N GLX-1527 · Built 1989 Airframe modelGalaxy Balloons GALAXY 7 Engine modelNONENone

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) During descent for the balloon landing, the pilot stated the winds were calm. However, at approximately 50 feet above the trees, they encountered a strong wind shear 90 degrees from the (right) direction of movement. The balloon partially collapsed and ascended approximately 100 feet then started a fast descent. The pilot was able to use the burner during descent, however the basked and envelope descended into trees causing minor damage to the envelope. There was no damage to the basket or injury to pilot or passenger.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) DURING DESCENT FOR THE BALLOON LANDING, THE PILOT STATED THE WINDS WERE CALM. HOWEVER, AT APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET ABOVE THE TREES, THEY ENCOUNTERED A STRONG WIND SHEAR 90 DEGREES FROM THE (RIGHT) DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT. THE BALLOON PARTIALLY COLLAPSED AND ASCENDED APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET THEN STARTED A FAST DESCENT. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO USE THE BURNER DURING DESCENT, HOWEVER THE BASKED AND ENVELOPE DESCENDED INTO TREES CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE TO THE ENVELOPE. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE BASKET OR INJURY TO PILOT OR PASSENGER.