What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Balloon N57194 approached an open field for landing but the wind changed and the balloon was being blown toward some power lines. He climbed up above the power lines to make another approach to open desert beyond the power lines. As he set up for his approach and descent he attempted to open the top of the envolope just slightly, as he had done many times before, but soon realized that the top opened much more than planned. He tried to overcome descent by adding heat to the envelope but quickly realized he was headed for the power lines. He made the decision to open the top fully to avoid landing directly on top of the power lines. The balloon ended up sliding down the edge of the envelope on the wires with some melting of the fabric. Two of the 8 passengers had some of the melting fabric land on them. Both reported as minor. No other passenger received any injuries.
As the FAA filed it
BALLOON N57194 APPROACHED AN OPEN FIELD FOR LANDING BUT THE WIND CHANGED AND THE BALLOON WAS BEING BLOWN TOWARD SOME POWER LINES. HE CLIMBED UP ABOVE THE POWER LINES TO MAKE ANOTHER APPROACH TO OPEN DESERT BEYOND THE POWER LINES. AS HE SET UP FOR HIS APPROACH AND DESCENT HE ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE TOP OF THE ENVOLOPE JUST SLIGHTLY, AS HE HAD DONE MANY TIMES BEFORE, BUT SOON REALIZED THAT THE TOP OPENED MUCH MORE THAN PLANNED. HE TRIED TO OVERCOME DESCENT BY ADDING HEAT TO THE ENVELOPE BUT QUICKLY REALIZED HE WAS HEADED FOR THE POWER LINES. HE MADE THE DECISION TO OPEN THE TOP FULLY TO AVOID LANDING DIRECTLY ON TOP OF THE POWER LINES. THE BALLOON ENDED UP SLIDING DOWN THE EDGE OF THE ENVELOPE ON THE WIRES WITH SOME MELTING OF THE FABRIC. TWO OF THE 8 PASSENGERS HAD SOME OF THE MELTING FABRIC LAND ON THEM. BOTH REPORTED AS MINOR. NO OTHER PASSENGER RECEIVED ANY INJURIES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.