20141117022589A

Airman stated before leaving his house he started checking the weather for the morning flight, he checked with noaa, NWS, lntellicast, weather underground, blast valve, ryan carlton and the weather channel for local surface and winds aloft forecasts and the actual wind speed and direction on the ground. He said nothing was forecast for the more than 5 mph for the morning and was actually expected to calm down for the rest of the day. He said winds aloft forecast to be from the NE 8-15 up to @ 4000' MSL where it was turning more easterly. He then went to the launch site at 32nd st. and carefree highway. He stated the wind was calm. He launched a small helium filled balloon called a pi ball (pilot information balloon) to check for wind speed and direction, he stated. As anticipated the winds aloft were from the northeast and the wind was less than 15 aloft. He thought we would land either near the carefree highway and I?17 or across I?17 south of the ben avery gun range between 35th and 51st ave. with 11 passengers boarded the basket and he launched and flew to the southwest. He ascended to 4000' MSL and the direction did turn more to the west. About 30-40 minutes after launch he stated he noticed the wind had picked up on the surface; he saw a large flag near carefree highway and I-17 that was straight out. He descended from about 4000 ii MSL to set up for a landing on the west side of 1-17. He said he had briefed his passengers before they entered the basket that if it was windy the basket normally tips on its side and gets drug by the envelope, he stated before landing he had the passengers practice the windy landing position, knees bent slightly and leaning into the basket on the downwind side. He said his passengers were briefed and ready for the landing, his direction of travel was (from the northeast to the southwest) which took him across I-17 and then south of the 303 loop. He said he was looking for a big clearing to land in and the wind was now blowing 15-20 mph. He said to stop quickly, the rapid deflation port (valve) needs be opened as quickly as possible. He said it was not very rapid that day. He said he pulled and pulled. He said the valve did open but with lots of difficulty. He said he brushed through a tree slowing the speed somewhat, and then hit a tree with the pilot compartment, putting a hole in that side of the basket. Then a few yards downwind from the tree the basket tipped over and stopped. The terrain was flat with some scattered trees here and there, he said downwind from where the basket stopped were trees growing densely along a wash. He said beyond the wash was a large hill with trees and lava rocks and beyond the hill was the cap water canal. And downwind of the cap were houses, he stated his choice of landing site appeared to be much better than flying on downwind. After the basket stopped he asked the passengers if they were ok and was informed that a lady had hurt her ankle. Another two passengers said they were hurt. A lady said she had a hurt knee and a bump on the head. A man said he had a sore ankle. He said after the chase vehicle arrived which was about 5 minutes after the basket stopped, they immediately loaded the injured passengers into a chase van to deliver them to the hospital. The resulting injuries were two broken ankles a sprained knee and sprained ankle. Two were treated and released that morning. The passinger with the broken ankles was hospitalized for more than 4 days. There was no wreckage at the landing site.