La Mesa, TX, USA
N901UM
ULTRAMAGIC S90
According to the pilot, he was making an approach to land in a field. About 10 ft above ground level (agl), he pulled the vent chute. The balloon struck the ground travelling about 15 mph and tipped over, and then the wind pushed it across furrows for 60 ft. A wind gust lifted the partially filled balloon to about 20 ft agl. The pilot pulled the vent chute again, and after the balloon traveled another 128 ft, the basket struck the ground hard. The wind pushed the balloon for another 30 ft, and the balloon struck ditches on both sides of a road. The balloon then travelled another 88 ft through the grass and then came to a stop. The balloon was not damaged; however, one passenger sustained serious injuries, and a second passenger sustained minor injuries. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, there were 18 balloons at the launch site, one of which belonged to another FAA inspector, who had unpacked his balloon but did not launch. No other pilots unpacked their balloons due to the high winds aloft. The accident pilot was the only one to take off.
According to the pilot's accident report, he was making an approach to land in a furrowed farm field. About 10 feet above the ground, he pulled the vent chute. The balloon struck the ground travelling about 15 mph, tipped over, and was dragged by the wind across furrows for 60 feet. A gust of wind lifted the partially-filled balloon back into in the air to about 20 feet. He pulled the vent chute again and after travelling another 128 feet, the basket struck the ground hard. The wind dragged the balloon for another 30 feet, striking ditches on both sides of a road. It then travelled another 88 feet through grass. The balloon was not damaged; however, one passenger sustained serious injuries and a second passenger sustained minor injuries. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, there were 18 balloons at the launch site, including an FAA Inspector. The inspector had unpacked his balloon but did not launch. No other pilots unpacked their balloons due to the of the high winds aloft. (The accident pilot) was the only one to take off.
The pilot's improper decision to launch the balloon in known high wind conditions, and his failure to fully vent the balloon upon landing, which resulted in the balloon landing hard several times, tipping over, being pushed along uneven ground, and a serious passenger injury.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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