What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On March 31, at 0830 MDT a balloon works firefly 140 FF9, N72345, was destroyed in a fire after a hard landing in a valley in the wild river park west of Questa, new Mexico. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries and the 5 passengers sustained serious injuries. At approximately 20 feet above ground the balloon encountered gusting winds and downdrafts. The balloon initially impacted the ground with enough force to eject 4 of the passengers. The balloon became airborne and flew for an additional 1000 feet before a second impact ejected the pilot and fifth passenger. The balloon became airborne and traveled approximately 3200 feet north where it was stopped by trees and rising terrain. Fire consumed the balloon.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON MARCH 31, AT 0830 MDT A BALLOON WORKS FIREFLY 140 FF9, N72345, WAS DESTROYED IN A FIRE AFTER A HARD LANDING IN A VALLEY IN THE WILD RIVER PARK WEST OF QUESTA, NEW MEXICO. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND THE 5 PASSENGERS SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. AT APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET ABOVE GROUND THE BALLOON ENCOUNTERED GUSTING WINDS AND DOWNDRAFTS. THE BALLOON INITIALLY IMPACTED THE GROUND WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO EJECT 4 OF THE PASSENGERS. THE BALLOON BECAME AIRBORNE AND FLEW FOR AN ADDITIONAL 1000 FEET BEFORE A SECOND IMPACT EJECTED THE PILOT AND FIFTH PASSENGER. THE BALLOON BECAME AIRBORNE AND TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 3200 FEET NORTH WHERE IT WAS STOPPED BY TREES AND RISING TERRAIN. FIRE CONSUMED THE BALLOON.