What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Description: the PIC began a personal flight with passengers with the balloon tethered to the ground. Once airborne, the PIC found the conditions to be favorable to release the tether. When the PIC was attempting to land, the wind picked up and the balloon began to climb and drift towards the east, closer to powerlines. The PIC attempted to use the single-burner to climb above the lines, but realized it would not be possible to make it above them. The PIC elected to pull the deflation line. During the descent, the envelope support lines struck the power lines causing the envelope to separate from the basket. The basket fell approximately 20 feet. A small grass fire was started by the burner after impact. The PIC and two passengers sustained minor injuries.
As the FAA filed it
DESCRIPTION: THE PIC BEGAN A PERSONAL FLIGHT WITH PASSENGERS WITH THE BALLOON TETHERED TO THE GROUND. ONCE AIRBORNE, THE PIC FOUND THE CONDITIONS TO BE FAVORABLE TO RELEASE THE TETHER. WHEN THE PIC WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND, THE WIND PICKED UP AND THE BALLOON BEGAN TO CLIMB AND DRIFT TOWARDS THE EAST, CLOSER TO POWERLINES. THE PIC ATTEMPTED TO USE THE SINGLE-BURNER TO CLIMB ABOVE THE LINES, BUT REALIZED IT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE TO MAKE IT ABOVE THEM. THE PIC ELECTED TO PULL THE DEFLATION LINE. DURING THE DESCENT, THE ENVELOPE SUPPORT LINES STRUCK THE POWER LINES CAUSING THE ENVELOPE TO SEPARATE FROM THE BASKET. THE BASKET FELL APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET. A SMALL GRASS FIRE WAS STARTED BY THE BURNER AFTER IMPACT. THE PIC AND TWO PASSENGERS SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.