GREENWOOD, MO, USA
N3605G
BALLOON WORKS FIREFLY-7B
THE PILOT SAID THAT WHILE REPOSITIONING THE BALLOON AFTER LANDING, SHE ASCENDED ABOUT 100 AGL TO CLEAR SOME TREES. SHE HEARD A VOICE BELOW SHOUT, 'I CAN'T HANG ON.' LOOKING DOWN SHE SAW A GROUND CREW MEMBER HANGING ON A TETHER LINE. HE LOST HIS GRIP AND FELL INTO SOME TREES FROM ABOUT 100 FEET AGL AND SUFFERED FATAL INJURIES. THE DECEASED GROUND CREW MEMBER'S WIFE HAD BEEN A PASSENGER WITH HER HUSBAND ON THE FLIGHT PRECEDING THE ACCIDENT. SHE RECALLED THERE WAS DISCUSSION ABOUT WALKING THE BALLOON THROUGH THE TREE LINE, BUT AT NO TIME HEARD ANY INSTRUCTIONS ABOUT NOT TOUCHING, PUSHING OR HOLDING THE BALLOON'S TOW LINE. SHE ALSO SAID SHE DID NOT BELIEVE THE BALLOON WOULD BE RISING TO AN ALTITUDE SUFFICIENT TO CLEAR THE TREE LINE.
THE INADEQUATE BRIEFING TO THE GROUND CREW BY THE PILOT, BECAUSE THE GROUND CREWMAN DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE INTENT AND OBJECTIVES OF THE MANEUVER.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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