Primary finding
Probable cause
the unsuitable landing area selected by the pilot-in-command which resulted in a hard landing. A contributing factor was the uneven/rough terrain.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The commercial balloon pilot was demonstrating an upslope landing on a terraced hill. The balloon bounced on one of the terraces, and the student pilot was "thrown forward." The student pilot lost her footing, one of her shoes became lodged in the bottom of the basket, and she sustained a broken ankle. The instructor aborted the landing, and landed the balloon at the next available field.
Source record
Factual narrative
On June 23, 2001, approximately 2015 central daylight time, a Balloon Works Firefly 8B-15 hot air balloon, N72524, was not damaged during a hard landing near Celina, Texas. The commercial pilot was not injured, and the student pilot received serious injuries. The balloon was owned and operated by the student pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The flight departed McKinney, Texas, approximately 1900. The instructor and student pilot stated that during the instructional flight, the instructor had demonstrated several approaches and landings. During a landing to an upward sloping terraced hill, the balloon bounced on one of the terraces, and the student pilot was "thrown forward." The student pilot had lost her footing, one of her shoes became lodged in the bottom of the basket, and she sustained a broken ankle. The instructor aborted the landing, and landed at the next available field.