20020316009169A

(-23) While attempting to land after a sight seeing flight, the hot air balloon struck a tree. The pilot and passengers were ejected from the balloon. One passenger had a tree limb penetrate her leg causing serious injuries. (.19) on March 16, 2002, about 0821 mountain standard time an avian magnum ix, hot air balloon, N2037U, landed hard, bounced, then touched down again in trees near Sedona, Arizona. The balloon was operated by northern light expeditions, under 14 CFR part 91, for the local sightseeing flight. A flight plan was not filed. The balloon sustained minor damage while the commercial pilot and five passengers had no injuries. One passenger received serious injuries. The flight departed from a launch site routinely used by the operator near Sedona, about 0655. The pilot reported that the winds drifted the balloon to the north for about 25 minutes at a slow pace estimated less than 5 knots. After exiting the valley the flight continued north, remaining about 100 feet above the ground. As the anticipated landing site was approached the chase crew was sent ahead to verify wind conditions. In a descent, with the envelope cooled, the pilot planned to drift over a ridge line oriented west to east to make use of the ridge's wind blocking effect for the landing. About 60 feet above the trees, a west wind accelerated the balloon toward the east about 20 miles per hour. The pilot elected to continue to attempt to land in the vicinity of the clearing he had selected, did not apply heat, and continued to deflate the envelope. A downdraft was encountered, the balloon touched down hard, and bounced. The balloon was dragged through the trees with the vent open. The envelope softened, and then spinnakered. With no bouyancy, the balloon descended again, faster, and dragged through more trees, which resulted in a tree limb penetrating the basket and injuring one passenger. The pilot and the injured passenger were dumped from the basket and the balloon came to rest a few feet away.