What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
The location was not on the airport but took place in the town of st George, Utah.
On November 28, 2020 at approximately 1700 MST the balloon pilot had just completed a personal flight and landed to an area that was not conducive to deflation. The pilot again lifted off the ground and the ground crew assisted by guiding the balloon to a more suitable area via a drop line.
After landing at the new location, and unbeknownst to the pilot in command, one of the ground crew members started to put the drop line back in its bag without being asked. During this time, the balloon inadvertently lifted off the ground. In the process of lifting off, this ground crew's gloved hands became entangled in the drop line and was lifted off the ground.
The pilot immediately pulled the red line to stop the balloon?s assent but it still reached an altitude of 15 to 35 feet above ground level. Near this altitude, the entangled ground crew member fell to the ground and sustained multiple injuries that included a shattered L2 vertebrae, bruises in several areas, and a black eye.
An emt/firefighter was on scene to provide assistance until the ambulance arrived. Surgery was performed and physical therapy is ongoing.
The balloon did not receive any damages.
As the FAA filed it
THE LOCATION WAS NOT ON THE AIRPORT BUT TOOK PLACE IN THE TOWN OF ST GEORGE, UTAH.
ON NOVEMBER 28, 2020 AT APPROXIMATELY 1700 MST THE BALLOON PILOT HAD JUST COMPLETED A PERSONAL FLIGHT AND LANDED TO AN AREA THAT WAS NOT CONDUCIVE TO DEFLATION. THE PILOT AGAIN LIFTED OFF THE GROUND AND THE GROUND CREW ASSISTED BY GUIDING THE BALLOON TO A MORE SUITABLE AREA VIA A DROP LINE.
AFTER LANDING AT THE NEW LOCATION, AND UNBEKNOWNST TO THE PILOT IN COMMAND, ONE OF THE GROUND CREW MEMBERS STARTED TO PUT THE DROP LINE BACK IN ITS BAG WITHOUT BEING ASKED. DURING THIS TIME, THE BALLOON INADVERTENTLY LIFTED OFF THE GROUND. IN THE PROCESS OF LIFTING OFF, THIS GROUND CREW'S GLOVED HANDS BECAME ENTANGLED IN THE DROP LINE AND WAS LIFTED OFF THE GROUND.
THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY PULLED THE RED LINE TO STOP THE BALLOON?S ASSENT BUT IT STILL REACHED AN ALTITUDE OF 15 TO 35 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. NEAR THIS ALTITUDE, THE ENTANGLED GROUND CREW MEMBER FELL TO THE GROUND AND SUSTAINED MULTIPLE INJURIES THAT INCLUDED A SHATTERED L2 VERTEBRAE, BRUISES IN SEVERAL AREAS, AND A BLACK EYE.
AN EMT/FIREFIGHTER WAS ON SCENE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE UNTIL THE AMBULANCE ARRIVED. SURGERY WAS PERFORMED AND PHYSICAL THERAPY IS ONGOING.
THE BALLOON DID NOT RECEIVE ANY DAMAGES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.