What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Pd investigation sas activity: GL19202202905
(1) Description:
The pilot stated, while landing at the castle ridge complex (a closed golf course) in centraliam Illinois, hot air balloon privacy data omittedexperienced an unexpected windshear on the ground and the balloon envelope was blown into a dead tree while inflated. The pilot stated the damage was limited to the balloon evvelope (fabric portion), no structural damage occurred. The pilot stated there were no injuries to the pilot or two passengers.
(2) Causal and/or contributing factors:
A rapid wind gust diverted the balloon's track to the right causing impact with a tree.
(3) "ATC" and rational if ATC actions contributed to the event:
None.
(4) Recommendations for systemic corrective action:
Event not based on a systematic error. The pilot could not overcome the wind gust. Hot air balloons are unsteerable after landing.
(5) Actions taken to address the transgression:
None.
(6) Other comments:
None.
(7) Investigation:
The investigation revealed the balloon was blown into the dead tree after landing causing minimal damage to the balloon's fabric envelope. The most significant damage occurred during the local fire department's recovery of the balloon.
(8) Root cause analysis (rca):
The pilot's inability to control the balloon after ladning. Hot air balloons are subject to the winds with little to no pilot controllability.
(9) Corrective action:
No corrective action necessary. The pilot performed as expected.
(10) Comments:
No regualtory violations found. ASI recommends no further action.
As the FAA filed it
PD INVESTIGATION SAS ACTIVITY: GL19202202905
(1) DESCRIPTION:
THE PILOT STATED, WHILE LANDING AT THE CASTLE RIDGE COMPLEX (A CLOSED GOLF COURSE) IN CENTRALIAM ILLINOIS, HOT AIR BALLOON ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^EXPERIENCED AN UNEXPECTED WINDSHEAR ON THE GROUND AND THE BALLOON ENVELOPE WAS BLOWN INTO A DEAD TREE WHILE INFLATED. THE PILOT STATED THE DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE BALLOON EVVELOPE (FABRIC PORTION), NO STRUCTURAL DAMAGE OCCURRED. THE PILOT STATED THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO THE PILOT OR TWO PASSENGERS.
(2) CAUSAL AND/OR CONTRIBUTING FACTORS:
A RAPID WIND GUST DIVERTED THE BALLOON'S TRACK TO THE RIGHT CAUSING IMPACT WITH A TREE.
(3) "ATC" AND RATIONAL IF ATC ACTIONS CONTRIBUTED TO THE EVENT:
NONE.
(4) RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SYSTEMIC CORRECTIVE ACTION:
EVENT NOT BASED ON A SYSTEMATIC ERROR. THE PILOT COULD NOT OVERCOME THE WIND GUST. HOT AIR BALLOONS ARE UNSTEERABLE AFTER LANDING.
(5) ACTIONS TAKEN TO ADDRESS THE TRANSGRESSION:
NONE.
(6) OTHER COMMENTS:
NONE.
(7) INVESTIGATION:
THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE BALLOON WAS BLOWN INTO THE DEAD TREE AFTER LANDING CAUSING MINIMAL DAMAGE TO THE BALLOON'S FABRIC ENVELOPE. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE OCCURRED DURING THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT'S RECOVERY OF THE BALLOON.
(8) ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS (RCA):
THE PILOT'S INABILITY TO CONTROL THE BALLOON AFTER LADNING. HOT AIR BALLOONS ARE SUBJECT TO THE WINDS WITH LITTLE TO NO PILOT CONTROLLABILITY.
(9) CORRECTIVE ACTION:
NO CORRECTIVE ACTION NECESSARY. THE PILOT PERFORMED AS EXPECTED.
(10) COMMENTS:
NO REGUALTORY VIOLATIONS FOUND. ASI RECOMMENDS NO FURTHER ACTION.