What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Just after landing and prior to pilot and passenger exiting the basket, a sudden wind gust lifted the balloon 10 to 15 feet. The balloon then rapidly settled and was drug through brush and trees. Pilot received broken ankle. Passenger received scratches. Balloon basket received damage to footwell. Pilot and passenger both reported no significant winds present during launch or flight prior to landing and that initial landing was ok with no notable dragging of basket prior to wind gust after initial landing was completed. Review of historical weather data shows no forecast of any widespread significant weather for the area on the date and time of the accident. Investigation closed with no further action.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) JUST AFTER LANDING AND PRIOR TO PILOT AND PASSENGER EXITING THE BASKET, A SUDDEN WIND GUST LIFTED THE BALLOON 10 TO 15 FEET. THE BALLOON THEN RAPIDLY SETTLED AND WAS DRUG THROUGH BRUSH AND TREES. PILOT RECEIVED BROKEN ANKLE. PASSENGER RECEIVED SCRATCHES. BALLOON BASKET RECEIVED DAMAGE TO FOOTWELL. PILOT AND PASSENGER BOTH REPORTED NO SIGNIFICANT WINDS PRESENT DURING LAUNCH OR FLIGHT PRIOR TO LANDING AND THAT INITIAL LANDING WAS OK WITH NO NOTABLE DRAGGING OF BASKET PRIOR TO WIND GUST AFTER INITIAL LANDING WAS COMPLETED. REVIEW OF HISTORICAL WEATHER DATA SHOWS NO FORECAST OF ANY WIDESPREAD SIGNIFICANT WEATHER FOR THE AREA ON THE DATE AND TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. INVESTIGATION CLOSED WITH NO FURTHER ACTION.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N5161Y · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.