Balloon Works FIREFLY8B N3180S accident near Rock Hill, South Carolina

Probable cause

The pilot’s inadequate compensation for wind, which resulted in the balloon landing hard and a passenger sustaining a serious injury.

NTSB analysis

The commercial pilot was operating a balloon sightseeing trip with two passengers on board. According to the pilot, after the balloon cleared trees during the approach to a field, a wind gust and downdraft caused it to land hard; the balloon sustained no damage. The pilot reported that, for the landing sequence, both passengers were instructed to put their feet and knees together, slightly bend their knees, and hold onto two places in the basket. During the hard landing, one passenger was thrown into another passenger and impacted her leg with his knee, which resulted in her sustaining a serious injury.

The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the balloon that would have prevented normal operation. The closest weather reporting system, located about 5.5 nautical miles northeast of the accident site, and the pilot reported that the wind was from 110 degrees and between about 3 and 5 knots around the time of the accident. It is likely that the pilot did not adequately compensate for the wind during the landing approach, which resulted in the hard landing and the passenger's serious injuries.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA16LA172 for the full record.