What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
After changing the departure location due to winds, balloon departed on an approximate 45 minute flight. PIC was reported to police from passengers onboard that the PIC had issues with the wind during the flight. PIC attempted a landing in a vacant field near 19th avenue and west joy ranch rd. in Phoenix, AZ. PIC stated that he instructed passengers to look away and duck as the balloon neared touchdown. PIC reported the basket bounced once, however passengers reported to police that the basket bounced 3 times during the landing. During the landing, the basket contacted a previously burnt tree and a branch punctured the basket and inflicted serious injury to one passenger and a minor injury to another. The balloon came to a rest against a cable fence at one end of the field.
As the FAA filed it
AFTER CHANGING THE DEPARTURE LOCATION DUE TO WINDS, BALLOON DEPARTED ON AN APPROXIMATE 45 MINUTE FLIGHT. PIC WAS REPORTED TO POLICE FROM PASSENGERS ONBOARD THAT THE PIC HAD ISSUES WITH THE WIND DURING THE FLIGHT. PIC ATTEMPTED A LANDING IN A VACANT FIELD NEAR 19TH AVENUE AND WEST JOY RANCH RD. IN PHOENIX, AZ. PIC STATED THAT HE INSTRUCTED PASSENGERS TO LOOK AWAY AND DUCK AS THE BALLOON NEARED TOUCHDOWN. PIC REPORTED THE BASKET BOUNCED ONCE, HOWEVER PASSENGERS REPORTED TO POLICE THAT THE BASKET BOUNCED 3 TIMES DURING THE LANDING. DURING THE LANDING, THE BASKET CONTACTED A PREVIOUSLY BURNT TREE AND A BRANCH PUNCTURED THE BASKET AND INFLICTED SERIOUS INJURY TO ONE PASSENGER AND A MINOR INJURY TO ANOTHER. THE BALLOON CAME TO A REST AGAINST A CABLE FENCE AT ONE END OF THE FIELD.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N500UM · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.