On July 27, 2011, a KUBICEK BB85 Z operated by Colorado Rocky Ballooning LLC was involved in an aviation accident near Hartsel, CO. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's encounter with high wind which resulted in a hard landing and passenger injury. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A hot air balloon on a sightseeing flight experienced a hard landing after a wind gust caused it to become airborne during landing. One of ten passengers suffered a broken leg; balloon undamaged, no mechanical issues.
Landing Sequence
The pilot was attempting to land a hot air balloon after completing a sightseeing flight. The balloon initially touched down on the ground. However, a sudden increase in wind velocity lifted the balloon off the ground again. The balloon then traveled about 30 feet before it experienced a hard landing. This hard landing was the final event of the sequence.
Passenger Injuries
The balloon had ten passengers on board. One of these passengers sustained a broken leg as a result of the hard landing. No other injuries were reported.
Balloon Condition
The balloon was not damaged during the incident. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures before the impact that would have prevented normal operation of the balloon.