Balloon
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Lighter-Than-Air
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 4; Flight Crew Total 160; Flight Crew Type 160
Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury; Ground Event / Encounter Ground Strike - Aircraft; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; General Physical Injury / Incapacitation
Weather; Human Factors
I had a Hot Air Balloon flight with three passengers in the basket with me for the flight. I contacted Flight Services prior to going to the launch field. The surface wind at a nearby field was from the north at 9 mph. Forecast called for the winds to be variable at 3 from XA a.m. to XF a.m. Winds aloft at 3;000 feet were 340@20. The surface winds at my home dropped off to calm. Upon arrival to the launch field winds were down to the 3 that was forecasted. I launched 3 pibals (10 minutes apart) and they reflected the forecasted conditions. When I launched my GPS was reading 2-3 MPH. The flight was typical with the conditions that I observed (same as the visual pibals indicated as well as the conditions at the nearby airport and there were no trees; leaves or flags moving.) About halfway thru the flight the winds picked up considerable (over 10 mph). This did not reflect anything I had seen previously in the flight. Having flown regularly in the area and based on my local knowledge I landed in the first landing area I could get into safely. I came upon a field and told my passengers that we were landing in this field (I had instructed them on the proper landing procedure prior to our launch.) I scrubbed off some speed on the top of a tree as we approached the field and once clear of the tree I vented the balloon. I descended into the field and upon landing we dragged approximately 30 to 40 feet. As the balloon came to a stop I asked if everyone was ok. The answer was yes. As we began to prepare to pack up the balloon my male passenger said his leg was a little sore. He thought he may have bumped it. He was clearly walking ok. We packed up the balloon and returned to the launch field. We did our post flight ceremony. We gave him some ice and a chair to sit in and there was no bruising/swelling visible. At the conclusion of the ceremony everyone was ok and they left the launch site. Four days later I received an email saying the males leg had been sore the past few days and had some x-rays taken. It was confirmed that he had broken his tibia. No cast was required as he was given a brace to wear. In summary the flight started off just as forecasted and just as all visual observances indicated. The wind picked up unexpectedly and I exercised what I believe to be a safe landing for my passengers.
Hot air balloon pilot reports encountering stronger than forecast winds and elects to land in a suitable field. A tree is used to scrub off speed and once clear the balloon is vented. The landing is firm and the balloon drags about 30 to 40 feet before deflating. A passenger is slightly injured.