Casualties unknown

Balloon Strikes Fencing During Landing Attempt in Windy Conditions (N5303Z)

Montrose, CO, US

On November 30, 2002, a Cameron Balloons O-70 (registration N5303Z) was involved in an aviation accident near Montrose, CO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the unforecasted increase in wind velocity. A contributing factor was the fence that the basket struck, subsequently spilling the occupants onto the ground. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

During a landing attempt in an open field, a balloon's basket struck a fence, spilling occupants to the ground. The balloon continued for 8-10 minutes before catching a second fence; no damage reported.

Incident Details

The pilot reported that this was his second flight of the morning. The wind was approximately 3 knots at the start of the flight but increased to about 10 knots during the flight.

Sequence of Events

During a landing attempt in an open field, the basket of the balloon struck a fence. The impact caused the occupants to spill onto the ground. The balloon then flew for an additional 8 to 10 minutes before the basket caught on a second fence. After this, the ground crew retrieved the balloon.

Outcome

No damage was incurred by the balloon. The incident involved two fence strikes and the spilling of occupants, but no further details on injuries or damage are provided.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20021203X05551. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.