What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On August 1, 2019 at approximately 2000 EDT, aircraft N6533Q, a Cameron balloon model A-210, serial # 6617, encountered inclement weather while flying in the Hume, NY area. As a result of the inclement weather, the balloon experienced a hard landing. The balloon was being operated by "balloons over letchworth" (liberty balloon co.) at the time of the hard landing. There were 9 people onboard and one passenger received a fractured ankle during the hard landing and was transported to the local hospital. This inspector did not travel to the accident site, but was in contact with the pilot at approximately 2130 EDT on the day of the accident. The pilot stated that there was no visual damage to the balloon as a result of the hard landing. The pilot provided the NY state police with a deposition as well as providing this inspector with a written statement of the event. The pilot also provided this inspector with copies of his pilot flight log and pages of the aircraft maintenance log book. The pilot meets the requirement for currency in accordance with CFR part 61.56 and 61.57. The aircraft's last annual inspection was completed on April 16, 2019.
As the FAA filed it
ON AUGUST 1, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY 2000 EDT, AIRCRAFT N6533Q, A CAMERON BALLOON MODEL A-210, SERIAL # 6617, ENCOUNTERED INCLEMENT WEATHER WHILE FLYING IN THE HUME, NY AREA. AS A RESULT OF THE INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE BALLOON EXPERIENCED A HARD LANDING. THE BALLOON WAS BEING OPERATED BY "BALLOONS OVER LETCHWORTH" (LIBERTY BALLOON CO.) AT THE TIME OF THE HARD LANDING. THERE WERE 9 PEOPLE ONBOARD AND ONE PASSENGER RECEIVED A FRACTURED ANKLE DURING THE HARD LANDING AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE LOCAL HOSPITAL. THIS INSPECTOR DID NOT TRAVEL TO THE ACCIDENT SITE, BUT WAS IN CONTACT WITH THE PILOT AT APPROXIMATELY 2130 EDT ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO VISUAL DAMAGE TO THE BALLOON AS A RESULT OF THE HARD LANDING. THE PILOT PROVIDED THE NY STATE POLICE WITH A DEPOSITION AS WELL AS PROVIDING THIS INSPECTOR WITH A WRITTEN STATEMENT OF THE EVENT. THE PILOT ALSO PROVIDED THIS INSPECTOR WITH COPIES OF HIS PILOT FLIGHT LOG AND PAGES OF THE AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE LOG BOOK. THE PILOT MEETS THE REQUIREMENT FOR CURRENCY IN ACCORDANCE WITH CFR PART 61.56 AND 61.57. THE AIRCRAFT'S LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS COMPLETED ON APRIL 16, 2019.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.