Incident Overview
A commercial pilot with 2,486 hours of flight experience lost control of a single-engine airplane while maneuvering at low airspeed over a hot-air balloon that had landed approximately 500 yards south of a grass-strip runway. The airport owner, who observed the airplane prior to the accident, reported that the pilot was performing touch-and-go landings at the airport while hot-air balloon operations were taking place in the vicinity. He further noted that the pilot had conducted a couple of low passes in the area where a balloon had landed.
Wreckage Examination
The wreckage of the airplane was discovered approximately one mile south of the airport. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who responded to the accident site examined the tricycle-gear airplane. The inspector stated that the airplane was found in a right-wing-low, nose-down attitude, which he described as consistent with ground impact resulting from a stall/spin mishap. The left wing was bent forward, and the right main landing gear was folded under the fuselage. Fuel was present in the fuel tank, but there was no post-impact fire.
Weather Conditions
The wind at the time of the accident was reported from 270 degrees at 6 knots.