What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Balloon was launched during calm wind conditions approximately 5 miles west of wausau, WI. Shortly after launch, thermals and wind shear were encountered which caused the balloon to climb and descend at approximately 800 feet per minute. Pilot elected to make a precautionary landing. After landing, a 20 knot gust of wind partially deflated the envelope and lifted the balloon 200 feet into the air. This was followed by a hard landing in a hay field which broke the pilot's right ankle. The aircraft was then dragged approximately 1/4 mile by the wind before coming to a final stop. There was no indication during the pilot's weather briefing that hazardous wind conditions existed or were forecast to exist during the flight.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) BALLOON WAS LAUNCHED DURING CALM WIND CONDITIONS APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES WEST OF WAUSAU, WI. SHORTLY AFTER LAUNCH, THERMALS AND WIND SHEAR WERE ENCOUNTERED WHICH CAUSED THE BALLOON TO CLIMB AND DESCEND AT APPROXIMATELY 800 FEET PER MINUTE. PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. AFTER LANDING, A 20 KNOT GUST OF WIND PARTIALLY DEFLATED THE ENVELOPE AND LIFTED THE BALLOON 200 FEET INTO THE AIR. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY A HARD LANDING IN A HAY FIELD WHICH BROKE THE PILOT'S RIGHT ANKLE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS THEN DRAGGED APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE BY THE WIND BEFORE COMING TO A FINAL STOP. THERE WAS NO INDICATION DURING THE PILOT'S WEATHER BRIEFING THAT HAZARDOUS WIND CONDITIONS EXISTED OR WERE FORECAST TO EXIST DURING THE FLIGHT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.