Head Balloons Inc AX8-88 N8190V accident near Summerdale, Alabama

Probable cause

The balloon pilot's failure to maintain proper altitude/clearance from a tree line during the landing approach.

NTSB analysis

The pilot of the balloon reported that he elected to land in a large field after the wind speed increased during the flight. During the approach the pilot aligned the gondola to scrape along the top of a tree line adjacent to the intended landing field. He stated that, in ballooning, it is a common practice to scrape against the tops of trees on approach. The pilot allowed the balloon to descend too low during the maneuver and the balloon's "red line" became tangled in the trees which caused the envelope to deflate. The balloon then caught fire and the gondola settled to the ground as the pilot turned off the fuel. Both he and the passenger egressed the gondola safely before fire consumed the gondola.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA11CA353 for the full record.