What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On December 14, 2019, at 0853 MST, a Head balloons, inc. AX8-88B lighter-than-air balloon (N2224H) with airborne burner, registered to privacy data omitted, experienced an in-flight collision with high voltage power lines while attempting to land within the city limits of Las Cruces, NM. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and a VFR flight plan was not filed. The aircraft sustained minor damage, and the certificated pilot experienced minor electrical burns to two fingers (index and middle) of his left hand. The two passengers were not injured. The flight originated at the valley view city park in Las Cruces, NM on December 14, 2019, at 0815 MST.
As the FAA filed it
ON DECEMBER 14, 2019, AT 0853 MST, A HEAD BALLOONS, INC. AX8-88B LIGHTER-THAN-AIR BALLOON (N2224H) WITH AIRBORNE BURNER, REGISTERED TO ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, EXPERIENCED AN IN-FLIGHT COLLISION WITH HIGH VOLTAGE POWER LINES WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF LAS CRUCES, NM. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME, AND A VFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE, AND THE CERTIFICATED PILOT EXPERIENCED MINOR ELECTRICAL BURNS TO TWO FINGERS (INDEX AND MIDDLE) OF HIS LEFT HAND. THE TWO PASSENGERS WERE NOT INJURED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT THE VALLEY VIEW CITY PARK IN LAS CRUCES, NM ON DECEMBER 14, 2019, AT 0815 MST.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.