COLUMBIA, MO, USA
N5347S
Galaxy AX8
The balloon pilot selected an open field with two to three foot high weeds for landing. He stated that the landing was 'somewhat hard but within normal limits.' Also, he stated the basket tipped and was dragging across the field, when it contacted a three foot deep ditch. The basket came to a sudden stop after contacting the ditch, and two of the four passengers received broken arms.
On November 3, 1996, at 1700 central standard time, a Galaxy AX8 hot air balloon, N5347S, operated by Balloon Stormers, Inc., collided with a ditch while landing in a field in Columbia, Missouri. The pilot was not injured. Two passengers on board received broken arms. The remaining two passengers were not injured. The balloon was not damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 local flight departed from Columbia, Missouri, at 1615 cst. The pilot reported that the local winds were approximately 10 miles per hour (mph) when the balloon was launched. He stated 45 minutes later, when they were landing, the winds had decreased to approximately 8 mph. He stated the field he selected for the landing was covered with two to three foot high weeds. He stated the balloon touched down on the edge of the field and that the landing was "somewhat hard but well within the normal limits." He reported the basket "tipped slightly" and began to drag through the weeds. He stated he was continuing to deflate the balloon when the basket contacted a three foot deep "wash-out" ditch that was not visible due to the weeds. The basket dropped into the ditch and struck the "downwind" side of the ditch which created a "very hard impact" and resulted in the basket coming to a stop. Both injured passengers received their broken bones as a result of the basket contacting the ditch. The accident location was inspected by an Inspector from the Kansas City Flight Standards District Office. This inspector noted that along the flight path, the weed covered field was preceded by a level, short grass covered field. He stated that the field in which the landing was actually made was rough, weed covered and downsloping.
the pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing. Factors relating to the accident were: the ditch, which was encountered during the landing; and high vegetation, which covered the ditch making it not visible to the pilot.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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