What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On October 14, 2023, at approximately 0750 MDT, a Cameron balloons A-315 hot air balloon was involved in an accident on the east side of Albuquerque, NM. The pilot stated that at about 75 feet above the ground (AGL) he encountered a mid-air wind shear/turbulent air which forced the balloon toward the ground much faster than anticipated; the pilot was unable to arrest the fast descent rate. A passenger broke her ankle during the resulting hard landing. No FAA flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the privacy data omitted(aibf) launch field near interstate highway I-25 in Albuquerque, NM. The FAA commercial pilot and the other 11 passengers were not injured.
As the FAA filed it
ON OCTOBER 14, 2023, AT APPROXIMATELY 0750 MDT, A CAMERON BALLOONS A-315 HOT AIR BALLOON WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON THE EAST SIDE OF ALBUQUERQUE, NM. THE PILOT STATED THAT AT ABOUT 75 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND (AGL) HE ENCOUNTERED A MID-AIR WIND SHEAR/TURBULENT AIR WHICH FORCED THE BALLOON TOWARD THE GROUND MUCH FASTER THAN ANTICIPATED; THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO ARREST THE FAST DESCENT RATE. A PASSENGER BROKE HER ANKLE DURING THE RESULTING HARD LANDING. NO FAA FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT THE ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^(AIBF) LAUNCH FIELD NEAR INTERSTATE HIGHWAY I-25 IN ALBUQUERQUE, NM. THE FAA COMMERCIAL PILOT AND THE OTHER 11 PASSENGERS WERE NOT INJURED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.