What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Accident occurred at 3370 harvest drive, Gordonville, PA 17534 (harvest drive family inn and restaurant).
Pictures and videos from spectators on the ground and passengers in the balloon show the launch site was approximately 50 feet from a wooden fence. Videos indicate windy and gusty conditions. It appears that a safety line broke which started the launch.
The balloon hit the fence and went over it, then drifted into a two story building. The basket was lifted up the side of the building to the awning before dropping to the ground.
Minor injuries reported by the passengers, and minor damage occured to the building. Major damage was sustained to the balloon envelope which was torn. The PIC reported that 12 percent of the panels need replaced.
As the FAA filed it
ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT 3370 HARVEST DRIVE, GORDONVILLE, PA 17534 (HARVEST DRIVE FAMILY INN AND RESTAURANT).
PICTURES AND VIDEOS FROM SPECTATORS ON THE GROUND AND PASSENGERS IN THE BALLOON SHOW THE LAUNCH SITE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET FROM A WOODEN FENCE. VIDEOS INDICATE WINDY AND GUSTY CONDITIONS. IT APPEARS THAT A SAFETY LINE BROKE WHICH STARTED THE LAUNCH.
THE BALLOON HIT THE FENCE AND WENT OVER IT, THEN DRIFTED INTO A TWO STORY BUILDING. THE BASKET WAS LIFTED UP THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING TO THE AWNING BEFORE DROPPING TO THE GROUND.
MINOR INJURIES REPORTED BY THE PASSENGERS, AND MINOR DAMAGE OCCURED TO THE BUILDING. MAJOR DAMAGE WAS SUSTAINED TO THE BALLOON ENVELOPE WHICH WAS TORN. THE PIC REPORTED THAT 12 PERCENT OF THE PANELS NEED REPLACED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.