Accident Overview
On July 22, 2015, about 00830 central daylight time, an ARBC Inc. 69X balloon, registration N76627, tipped over while landing near Longview, Texas. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. The balloon was not damaged. The flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a competition flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the flight operated without a flight plan. The local flight had departed about 0710.
Pilot's Account
The pilot reported that after completing all three competition tasks, he began searching for a landing site. As he descended, the wind speed increased, and the first few fields were too small for a safe landing under the windy conditions. He aborted the first landing to avoid powerlines and chose to land in an adjacent field.
During the landing approach, the pilot turned off his burners and pulled the parachute top to release hot air. He then encountered a downdraft. The impact with the ground was hard, causing the balloon to tip over. The basket dragged a short distance before stopping. The pilot reported that his left leg was seriously injured during the hard landing.
Mechanical Status
The pilot stated that there were no mechanical anomalies with the balloon that would have precluded normal operations.