What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Hot air balloon, Balony kubicek balloon model BB70Z, N1235J operated by longmont hot air balloon LLC departed from longmont Colorado at 1305Z (0705MDT). There were 9 personnel on board, the pilot privacy data omitted and 8 passengers.
The aircraft attempted to land at approximately 1430Z (0830MDT) in a wheat field approximately one mile east of the fort Collins Loveland airport (kfnl)(N40.444, W104.980).
Kfnl AWOS at the time was;
Kfnl 241435Z auto 17016G20KT 10SM clr 21/10 A2993 rmk AO1=.
The aircraft struck the ground hard several times and was drug by the winds approximately 175 yards coming to rest with the basket on its side. The pilot and one passenger suffered serious injuries and were transported by ambulance to the nearest hospital. One additional passenger was admitted to the hospital with possible head injury. The remaining 6 passengers refused medical treatment. The balloon basket sustained substantial damage.
As the FAA filed it
HOT AIR BALLOON, BALONY KUBICEK BALLOON MODEL BB70Z, N1235J OPERATED BY LONGMONT HOT AIR BALLOON LLC DEPARTED FROM LONGMONT COLORADO AT 1305Z (0705MDT). THERE WERE 9 PERSONNEL ON BOARD, THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AND 8 PASSENGERS.
THE AIRCRAFT ATTEMPTED TO LAND AT APPROXIMATELY 1430Z (0830MDT) IN A WHEAT FIELD APPROXIMATELY ONE MILE EAST OF THE FORT COLLINS LOVELAND AIRPORT (KFNL)(N40.444, W104.980).
KFNL AWOS AT THE TIME WAS;
KFNL 241435Z AUTO 17016G20KT 10SM CLR 21/10 A2993 RMK AO1=.
THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND HARD SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS DRUG BY THE WINDS APPROXIMATELY 175 YARDS COMING TO REST WITH THE BASKET ON ITS SIDE. THE PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURIES AND WERE TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE NEAREST HOSPITAL. ONE ADDITIONAL PASSENGER WAS ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL WITH POSSIBLE HEAD INJURY. THE REMAINING 6 PASSENGERS REFUSED MEDICAL TREATMENT. THE BALLOON BASKET SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.