What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Bruce wood lifted off from snowmass ranch at 6 am on July 15, 2003, on a commercial flight in Aerostar rally 8B balloon (90CU') in Aspen co with two passengers aboard. One mile west of Aspen, at around 150 feet altitude, his balloon was overtaken by a larger (175CU') N5047C balloon with 7 passengers aboard and was struck on the upper third of his craft ripping a hole by the basket of the other balloon. The basket of the larger then held the load tape of the smaller basket and tried to rise. Mr. Wood yelled to the other operator (greg wellens) to release his balloon-which was accomplished. Wood then, under full power and a 30' by 15' hole in his balloon guided the balloon to a controlled safe landing with no injuries. Will amend blocks 32 and 42 after more interviews with pilots.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) BRUCE WOOD LIFTED OFF FROM SNOWMASS RANCH AT 6 AM ON JULY 15, 2003, ON A COMMERCIAL FLIGHT IN AEROSTAR RALLY 8B BALLOON (90CU') IN ASPEN CO WITH TWO PASSENGERS ABOARD. ONE MILE WEST OF ASPEN, AT AROUND 150 FEET ALTITUDE, HIS BALLOON WAS OVERTAKEN BY A LARGER (175CU') N5047C BALLOON WITH 7 PASSENGERS ABOARD AND WAS STRUCK ON THE UPPER THIRD OF HIS CRAFT RIPPING A HOLE BY THE BASKET OF THE OTHER BALLOON. THE BASKET OF THE LARGER THEN HELD THE LOAD TAPE OF THE SMALLER BASKET AND TRIED TO RISE. MR. WOOD YELLED TO THE OTHER OPERATOR (GREG WELLENS) TO RELEASE HIS BALLOON-WHICH WAS ACCOMPLISHED. WOOD THEN, UNDER FULL POWER AND A 30' BY 15' HOLE IN HIS BALLOON GUIDED THE BALLOON TO A CONTROLLED SAFE LANDING WITH NO INJURIES. WILL AMEND BLOCKS 32 AND 42 AFTER MORE INTERVIEWS WITH PILOTS.
Other aircraft in the event · 1
Each aircraft in a collision has its own report.