Incident Overview
On August 3, 2018, at approximately 0815 Mountain Daylight Time, a Cameron Balloons US A-250 balloon with registration N2025J landed in an open field located about 12 miles east of Hartsel, Colorado. The aircraft was operated by Colorado Hot Air Balloon Rides for a revenue sightseeing flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. At the time of the accident, visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.
Casualties and Injuries
The balloon carried a commercial-rated pilot, a commercial-rated co-pilot, and seven passengers. Following the incident, one passenger sustained fatal injuries, while another suffered serious injuries. The remaining five passengers, along with both crew members, were not injured. An autopsy performed by the El Paso County Coroner determined that the cause of death for the fatality was blunt force neck trauma.
Sequence of Events
The flight departed at 0717 from a field approximately six miles northwest of the accident site. During the landing phase in moderate winds of 7 to 8 mph, the basket bounced several times and dragged on the ground for 40 to 50 feet before coming to rest. As the co-pilot initiated deflation by pulling the top out to release hot air, the basket tipped over onto its side. Two female passengers fell from the upper left compartment of the basket.
Operational Procedures
Passengers reported that pre-landing briefings were provided, instructing them to crouch, hold straps, and brace against the side wall. The company operations manual required pilots to brief passengers on high-wind tip-over scenarios. However, the Aerostar Basket Flight Manual recommended facing away from the direction of flight for high-wind landings to prevent ejection, a detail that differed from the reported briefing instructions.