What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On October 8, 2023, at approximately 0815 MDT, a Cameron A-105 balloon was involved in an accident in Albuquerque, NM. During flight, the wind began to increase and the pilot decided to land. The first attempt at landing had to be aborted because another balloon was in the way. During the second attempt at landing, the pilot said that they used the balloon's smart vent to decend in order to miss power lines. The balloon experienced a hard landing in a dirt field and one passenger was seriously injured. The private pilot and the other passenger were not injured. The aircraft sustained no damage. No FAA flight plan was filed. The flight originated at Albuquerque balloon fiesta field. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
As the FAA filed it
ON OCTOBER 8, 2023, AT APPROXIMATELY 0815 MDT, A CAMERON A-105 BALLOON WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN ALBUQUERQUE, NM. DURING FLIGHT, THE WIND BEGAN TO INCREASE AND THE PILOT DECIDED TO LAND. THE FIRST ATTEMPT AT LANDING HAD TO BE ABORTED BECAUSE ANOTHER BALLOON WAS IN THE WAY. DURING THE SECOND ATTEMPT AT LANDING, THE PILOT SAID THAT THEY USED THE BALLOON'S SMART VENT TO DECEND IN ORDER TO MISS POWER LINES. THE BALLOON EXPERIENCED A HARD LANDING IN A DIRT FIELD AND ONE PASSENGER WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE PRIVATE PILOT AND THE OTHER PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED NO DAMAGE. NO FAA FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT ALBUQUERQUE BALLOON FIESTA FIELD. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES THAT WOULD HAVE PRECLUDED NORMAL OPERATION.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.