Primary finding
Probable cause
The passenger’s loss of balance during landing that resulted in a serious injury.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot stated that the passengers were given a safety briefing prior to the balloon flight, in which they were informed to face forward and to secure themselves prior to landing. During landing, one of the passengers lost her balance and fell onto another passenger and sustained a serious injury to her ankle. The pilot stated there was no mechanical malfunction/failure of the balloon that would have precluded normal operation.