What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Pilot was observed approaching a target during the balloon competition. A set of telephone wires was located between the aircraft and target area. From the asi's vantage point it appeared the aircraft was slightly below these wires. The pilot was watching the target and wires. He failed to look up to determine the position of the burner prior to introducing fuel. The burner was tilted toward the scoop and envelope area. As the pilot introduced fuel to the burner, the flame burned the nomax scoop and approx 6-10 panels out of the side of the balloon. The pilot was instructed to land immediatley by the target officials, which he did. The aircraft landed w/o incident and deflated.
As the FAA filed it
PILOT WAS OBSERVED APPROACHING A TARGET DURING THE BALLOON COMPETITION. A SET OF TELEPHONE WIRES WAS LOCATED BETWEEN THE AIRCRAFT AND TARGET AREA. FROM THE ASI'S VANTAGE POINT IT APPEARED THE AIRCRAFT WAS SLIGHTLY BELOW THESE WIRES. THE PILOT WAS WATCHING THE TARGET AND WIRES. HE FAILED TO LOOK UP TO DETERMINE THE POSITION OF THE BURNER PRIOR TO INTRODUCING FUEL. THE BURNER WAS TILTED TOWARD THE SCOOP AND ENVELOPE AREA. AS THE PILOT INTRODUCED FUEL TO THE BURNER, THE FLAME BURNED THE NOMAX SCOOP AND APPROX 6-10 PANELS OUT OF THE SIDE OF THE BALLOON. THE PILOT WAS INSTRUCTED TO LAND IMMEDIATLEY BY THE TARGET OFFICIALS, WHICH HE DID. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED W/O INCIDENT AND DEFLATED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.