Incident Overview
An Ultramagic balloon pilot reported that during a balloon festival, after a local sightseeing flight, he landed and decided to wait for the ground crew to locate the balloon before deflating. As the balloon was deflating, he heard a basket sliding across the top of his balloon. The balloon rotated counter-clockwise, and the basket, still loaded with passengers, rolled upside down.
Lindstrand Balloon Pilot's Account
The Lindstrand balloon pilot reported that during landing, there were two balloons in his flight path. He climbed and passed the first balloon but was unable to pass the second. He stated, "I brushed him with my basket on the top of his balloon." He subsequently landed the balloon without further incident.
Damage and Injuries
The Ultramagic balloon sustained substantial damage to the burner rack. One passenger sustained serious injuries.
Mechanical Condition
The Ultramagic pilot and the Lindstrand operations manager reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the balloons that would have precluded normal operation.