What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On 2/24/17 at approximately 1705 EST, the instructor and student pilot departed on a VFR flight in a firefly 7 Balloon, N7423D with the intent to practice landings. The winds were reported as 220 degrees at 3 knots on the surface.
15 Minutes into the flight, the first approach and landing attempt was made into an open 15 acre field. As the Balloon crossed the tree line, the student was at the controls and started a decent towards the field. The basket made contact with the ground and rebounded in the air. Prior to the second landing, the student pilot braced his right leg on the side of the basket to prepare for landing. As the basket touched down, the student pilot felt his left ankle turn and snap. The instructor immediately pulled the valve line to deflate the Balloon and proceeded to call for medical assistance. No damage to the basket, or envelope occurred.
As the FAA filed it
ON 2/24/17 AT APPROXIMATELY 1705 EST, THE INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT PILOT DEPARTED ON A VFR FLIGHT IN A FIREFLY 7 BALLOON, N7423D WITH THE INTENT TO PRACTICE LANDINGS. THE WINDS WERE REPORTED AS 220 DEGREES AT 3 KNOTS ON THE SURFACE.
15 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT, THE FIRST APPROACH AND LANDING ATTEMPT WAS MADE INTO AN OPEN 15 ACRE FIELD. AS THE BALLOON CROSSED THE TREE LINE, THE STUDENT WAS AT THE CONTROLS AND STARTED A DECENT TOWARDS THE FIELD. THE BASKET MADE CONTACT WITH THE GROUND AND REBOUNDED IN THE AIR. PRIOR TO THE SECOND LANDING, THE STUDENT PILOT BRACED HIS RIGHT LEG ON THE SIDE OF THE BASKET TO PREPARE FOR LANDING. AS THE BASKET TOUCHED DOWN, THE STUDENT PILOT FELT HIS LEFT ANKLE TURN AND SNAP. THE INSTRUCTOR IMMEDIATELY PULLED THE VALVE LINE TO DEFLATE THE BALLOON AND PROCEEDED TO CALL FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. NO DAMAGE TO THE BASKET, OR ENVELOPE OCCURRED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.