What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Pilot stated he launced with wind from the east at 6 knots. He stated that as he moved west the wind picked up to 15 knots. He stated that as he flew over hilly country he descended to look for less wind but encountered wind shear. He stated that wind pushed in the envelope about 30 feet so he decided to land despite the wind. He stated he briefed pax about landing, shut off the burners and opened the vents. He stated that the balloon was dragged onto its side and the passengers fell on top of one women, who suffered a leg injury. Pax statements and awos/asos reports support pilot assertion of suitable winds for the flight. Other pax stated that a pax with GPS observed ground speed reached 15MPH just before touchdown. Pilot was attempting to end flight before further problems arose. Neither the pilot nor the ground crew assisted the passengers at touchdown, during exit or after the landing.
As the FAA filed it
PILOT STATED HE LAUNCED WITH WIND FROM THE EAST AT 6 KNOTS. HE STATED THAT AS HE MOVED WEST THE WIND PICKED UP TO 15 KNOTS. HE STATED THAT AS HE FLEW OVER HILLY COUNTRY HE DESCENDED TO LOOK FOR LESS WIND BUT ENCOUNTERED WIND SHEAR. HE STATED THAT WIND PUSHED IN THE ENVELOPE ABOUT 30 FEET SO HE DECIDED TO LAND DESPITE THE WIND. HE STATED HE BRIEFED PAX ABOUT LANDING, SHUT OFF THE BURNERS AND OPENED THE VENTS. HE STATED THAT THE BALLOON WAS DRAGGED ONTO ITS SIDE AND THE PASSENGERS FELL ON TOP OF ONE WOMEN, WHO SUFFERED A LEG INJURY.PAX STATEMENTS AND AWOS/ASOS REPORTS SUPPORT PILOT ASSERTION OF SUITABLE WINDS FOR THE FLIGHT. OTHER PAX STATED THAT A PAX WITH GPS OBSERVED GROUND SPEED REACHED 15MPH JUST BEFORE TOUCHDOWN. PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO END FLIGHT BEFORE FURTHER PROBLEMS AROSE. NEITHER THE PILOT NOR THE GROUND CREW ASSISTED THE PASSENGERS AT TOUCHDOWN, DURING EXIT OR AFTER THE LANDING.
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 N3013T · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.