Primary finding
Probable cause
The balloon passenger's failure to maintain her grip during landing, which resulted in a fall and injury to another passenger.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
At the completion of a balloon flight, the balloon touched down while moving at 4 mph and bounced. An adult passenger did not maintain her grip on the hand-holds and fell into another passenger, breaking that passenger’s wrist. According to the operator, the multi-passenger, partition-basket balloon was used for sightseeing flights. The passengers were given a briefing card and briefed at the operator's facility before being bused to the launch site, where a more detailed briefing was provided by the balloon’s pilot. The items briefed included the location of hand-holds and the proper stance at touchdown.
Source record
Factual narrative
According to the operator, the multi-passenger, partition-basket balloon was used for sightseeing flights in central Florida. The passengers were given a briefing card and briefed at the operator's facility, prior to being bused out to the launch site where a more detailed briefing was provided by the pilot of each balloon. The items briefed included the location of hand-holds and proper stance at touchdown. At the completion of its flight, the accident balloon touched down at 4 miles per hour. An adult passenger then fell into her child, breaking the child's wrist.