What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) While attempting to land in a field in strong winds the balloon was dragged and tipped. The crew member a 78-year-OLD spotter was ejected from the basket. With the weight loss of the crew member the balloon rose with no additional heat applied. The balloon cleared a stand of short trees and a creek. The pilot executed an emergency landing, shutting off the pilot and venting the envelope. When the basket stopped the envelope fell over power lines. At this time the pilot exited the basket and went to check on his crew member. She was sitting there waiting. The basket did not hit her when she fell out but apparently sustained a cracked rib. She was taken to the hospital, treated and released.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND IN A FIELD IN STRONG WINDS THE BALLOON WAS DRAGGED AND TIPPED. THE CREW MEMBER A 78-YEAR-OLD SPOTTER WAS EJECTED FROM THE BASKET. WITH THE WEIGHT LOSS OF THE CREW MEMBER THE BALLOON ROSE WITH NO ADDITIONAL HEAT APPLIED. THE BALLOON CLEARED A STAND OF SHORT TREES AND A CREEK. THE PILOT EXECUTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING, SHUTTING OFF THE PILOT AND VENTING THE ENVELOPE. WHEN THE BASKET STOPPED THE ENVELOPE FELL OVER POWER LINES. AT THIS TIME THE PILOT EXITED THE BASKET AND WENT TO CHECK ON HIS CREW MEMBER. SHE WAS SITTING THERE WAITING. THE BASKET DID NOT HIT HER WHEN SHE FELL OUT BUT APPARENTLY SUSTAINED A CRACKED RIB. SHE WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL, TREATED AND RELEASED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.