BALLOON PLT HIT HIGH TENSION PWR LINES.

Narrative

ON THE EVENING OF APR/XA/01; I WAS CONDUCTING A ROUTINE FLT OF MY HOT AIR BALLOON. I LAUNCHED MY BALLOON FROM HOLLYWOOD; WV; AT APPROX XA00. CONDITIONS WERE GOOD WITH CLR SKIES AND VFR CONDITIONS. I CONTACTED THE ELKINS FSS FOR STANDARD WX BRIEFING. UPON OBTAINING A FAVORABLE FORECAST; I LAUNCHED WITH ONLY MYSELF ON BOARD AND WAS HEADED ON A COURSE OF APPROX 150 DEGS; WIND SPD OF 5-6 MPH. THE FLT WAS ROUTINE AND EVERYTHING WAS GOING WELL. I FELT THE WIND SPD PICK UP AS I APCHED MY CHOICE FOR A LNDG AREA IN A LARGE HORSE PASTURE. I WAS BURNING TO OBTAIN ALT TO CLR AN APCHING PWRLINE. I REALIZED I WAS NOT GOING TO HAVE TIME TO CLR THE PWRLINE WITH THE BALLOON. I THEN FOLLOWED RECOGNIZED PROC TO RIP OUT THE PARACHUTE TOP TO CAUSE THE BALLOON TO LAND SHORT OF CONTACT WITH THE PWRLINE AND FENCE LINE. I MADE A SOFT LNDG WITH NO PROB UNTIL THE WIND CARRIED THE ENVELOPE OF MY BALLOON OVER THE PWRLINE. I; AT THAT POINT; KNEW THE BALLOON COULD BE ELECTRICALLY CHARGED AND I JUMPED CLR OF THE BASKET WITH NO PROB. I RADIOED TO MY CHASE CREW OF MY LOCATION AND THE FACT I HAD LANDED SAFELY; BUT HAD A PROB WITH THE BALLOON CONTACTING THE PWRLINE AND WAS GOING TO NEED ASSISTANCE FROM THE PWR COMPANY TO MAKE THE LINE AND HELP ME RECOVER MY ENVELOPE FROM THE PWRLINE. I; AT THAT POINT; MADE AN ERROR IN JUDGEMENT AND APCHED THE BASKET TO SHUT DOWN THE INSTS. WHEN I REACHED TO SHUT OFF THE SWITCHES; I WAS HIT WITH A CHARGE FROM THE LINE. I WAS KNOCKED TO THE GND AND STUNNED BUT I FELT OK -- OTHER THAN SOME NUMBNESS IN MY L ARM. A DOCTOR WAS ON THE SCENE AND SHE CHKED ME AND ADVISED THAT I SHOULD GO TO THE HOSPITAL FOR TESTS AND OBSERVATION. I AGREED TO DO SO; AND UPON FREEING MY BALLOON FROM THE PWRLINE; I WENT TO THE HOSPITAL. I WAS OK UPON EXAMINATION AND RELEASED.