What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On September 9, 2025, at approximately 1830 (EST) a Cameron balloon Z-90, piloted by a certificated balloon pilot (PIC) and carrying 2 passengers, came in for a landing after a site-seeing trip over Cedar Springs mi. During the initial approach, the PIC instructed his passengers to assume the briefed landing posture, to help absorb the initial shock of landing. Upon landing, the balloon bounced ff the ground causing one of the passengers to fall in the basket. Upon the second bounce, the other passenger fell in the basket landing on the ankle of the first passenger breaking her leg. The balloon finally came to rest on the third bounce and landed without incident or damage to the balloon. Paramedics were called to scene to assist in the disembarkation of the injured passenger and transported to the hospital for further treatment. Weather at the time of the accident was reported by metars at sparta miller airport (K8D4) clear winds out of the southwest 230 at 3 knots with 10 miles of visibility. This investigation is considered closed and no follow up is required
As the FAA filed it
ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2025, AT APPROXIMATELY 1830 (EST) A CAMERON BALLOON Z-90, PILOTED BY A CERTIFICATED BALLOON PILOT (PIC) AND CARRYING 2 PASSENGERS, CAME IN FOR A LANDING AFTER A SITE-SEEING TRIP OVER CEDAR SPRINGS MI. DURING THE INITIAL APPROACH, THE PIC INSTRUCTED HIS PASSENGERS TO ASSUME THE BRIEFED LANDING POSTURE, TO HELP ABSORB THE INITIAL SHOCK OF LANDING. UPON LANDING, THE BALLOON BOUNCED FF THE GROUND CAUSING ONE OF THE PASSENGERS TO FALL IN THE BASKET. UPON THE SECOND BOUNCE, THE OTHER PASSENGER FELL IN THE BASKET LANDING ON THE ANKLE OF THE FIRST PASSENGER BREAKING HER LEG. THE BALLOON FINALLY CAME TO REST ON THE THIRD BOUNCE AND LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT OR DAMAGE TO THE BALLOON. PARAMEDICS WERE CALLED TO SCENE TO ASSIST IN THE DISEMBARKATION OF THE INJURED PASSENGER AND TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL FOR FURTHER TREATMENT. WEATHER AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS REPORTED BY METARS AT SPARTA MILLER AIRPORT (K8D4) CLEAR WINDS OUT OF THE SOUTHWEST 230 AT 3 KNOTS WITH 10 MILES OF VISIBILITY. THIS INVESTIGATION IS CONSIDERED CLOSED AND NO FOLLOW UP IS REQUIRED
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.