Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to properly estimate the height of terrain while descending the balloon, which resulted in the balloon impacting a hill and passengers sustaining serious injuries.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The private pilot reported that, as he descended and maneuvered the balloon to check the wind for landing, the balloon impacted a hill that was higher than what he expected. He reported that the balloon's airspeed was between 15 and 20 mph when the collision occurred. Both passengers sustained a serious injury during the impact with the hill. Following the impact, the pilot initiated a burn to gain altitude, and shortly after, he landed the balloon with the assistance of his ground crew. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation.
Source record
Factual narrative
On October 10, 2018, about 0943 mountain daylight time, a Balloon Works Firefly 7-15 balloon, N7252H, experienced a hard landing in a field about 4 miles west of Placitas, New Mexico. The pilot was not injured and the two passengers sustained serious injuries. The balloon was not damaged. The balloon was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight that departed the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, Albuquerque, New Mexico, about 0851. The flight's destination was a landing area that was near the accident site. According to the pilot, as he descended and maneuvered the balloon to check the wind for landing, he inadvertently collided with a hill that was at a higher elevation than what he expected. He reported that the balloon's airspeed was between 15 to 20 mph during the collision. The balloon impacted the terrain firmly and both passengers sustained a broken ankle. The pilot subsequently landed the balloon uneventfully. The forecast wind at Albuquerque, located 17 nautical miles from the accident site, was 4 knots, while the wind reported by the pilot was between 6 to 8 knots. The pilot reported no mechanical failure or malfunction with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation.