BLAINE, MN, USA
N4196N
RAVEN AX-9
THE ONE HOUR BALLOON SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT WAS UNEVENTFUL. DURING HIS APPROACH TO LAND IN A CLEAR AREA HE DECIDED THAT HIS FORWARD VELOCITY WAS TOO HIGH TO LAND WITHOUT HITTING HOUSES OR POWERLINES BELOW THE BALLOON. ACCORDING TO HIM HE BURNED FUEL TO ATTEMPT A LEVEL OFF BUT DIDN'T BURN ENOUGH FUEL TO ARREST HIS DESCENT COMPLETELY. THE BALLOON STRUCK A MAPLE TREE AND THE GONDOLA MOMENTARILY BECAME CAUGHT ON A BRANCH. THE BRANCH GAVE WAY AND THE GONDOLA FELL TO THE GROUND HARD ENOUGH TO SERIOUSLY INJURE TWO OF THE SEVEN BALLOON OCCUPANTS.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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