On June 1, 2022, about 2015 central daylight time, a Cameron Z-90 balloon, N65009, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Burlington, Wisconsin. The pilot and 2 passengers were seriously injured. The balloon was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 other work use flight.
The pilot reported he had taken off with two passengers near the Burlington Municipal Airport (BUU) and drifted southeast. About an hour into the flight, the lake effect wind moved in and the pilot looked for a place to land. The pilot selected a road east of some railroad tracks and gave the passengers a landing briefing. The pilot noted their speed was 4 mph. The pilot also noticed a slow-moving train to his left but did not think it was a factor. The pilot remembered seeing the park east of the road and contacting the train. The pilot reported being knocked unconscious and that he did not recall anything else.
The engineer on the Canadian National freight train reported that he saw the balloon descending and began to slow the train as he did not know where the balloon was going. He said that he saw the balloon approach the train in his side mirror, at which time he applied the emergency brakes. The balloon then landed in the grassy area between the railroad tracks and a street. As the balloon began to lose air and become limp it started to blow toward the rail cars. The balloon envelope caught on one of the cars, 15 cars back from the engine, and the balloon was pulled off the ground. The envelope then ripped away from the basket and ascended about 200 ft into the air. None of the occupants of the train were injured.
Onboard forward- and rear-facing video recordings from the freight train engine showed that the balloon descended toward a road that ran parallel to railroad tracks just east of the train. In both videos, the balloon envelope was fully inflated as it slowly descended toward the road near an electrical substation. In the rear-facing video, the pilot engaged the burners just before the balloon disappeared behind the first freight car.
A witness who was at the nearby dog park reported that the balloon came over the tree line south of the dog park about 50 ft above the trees. The balloon descended as if it were going to land in the park but continued over the adjacent street toward the railroad tracks, which at the time had a train traveling northbound. The balloon landed in the grassy area between the railroad tracks and the street, and the balloon envelope became limp. The balloon then caught on one of the train cars which pulled the balloon off the ground. The envelope tore away from the basket and the three individuals in the basket fell out.
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the scene reported that witness marks showed the balloon initially touched down in the grassy area between the road and the railroad tracks, and again a second time closer to the railroad tracks. The balloon envelope caught on one of the uprights of an empty lumber car as it passed, which lifted the balloon off the ground and dragged it.
The balloon basket was intact and found inverted near the railroad tracks. Both propane tanks were intact and remained secured in the basket. One fuel line was separated from one tank. The fuel line to the second tank was separated near the burner attachment end. The envelope came to rest on a road, about 80 ft north of the basket.
The aluminum uprights fractured at the basket attach points. The cross tubes and burners were broken out at their attach points at the top of the uprights. The envelope sustained substantial damage to the A-blocks, carabiner attachments, and flying lines. Additionally, several panels to the envelope were ripped. Control continuity to the envelope spring top and turning vents was confirmed. Postaccident examination of the balloon showed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.