WEST CHICAGO, IL, USA
N21WR
Head Balloons, Inc. AX7-77
THE PILOT AND THREE PASSENGERS OCCUPIED THE BALLOON BASKET. DURING THE LANDING ONE PASSENGER WAS HOLDING A CHILD. WHEN THE BALLOON LANDED HARD, THE INDIVIDUAL HOLDING THE CHILD SUSTAINED A FRACTURE TO HIS ANKLE. THE PILOT AND OTHER TWO PASSENGERS REPORTED NO INJURIES.
On June 25, 1994, at 0720 central daylight time, a Head AX7-77, N21WR, registered to Wesley S. Rinker of Sanford, Florida, and operated by a commercial pilot, experienced a hard landing. The balloon received no damage. The pilot and two passengers reported no injuries. One passenger sustained serious injuries. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was being conducted in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file. The flight departed Geneva, Illinois, at approximately 0625. The balloon pilot stated that the passenger who was injured was holding his daughter on impact and fractured his ankle. He gave no explanation for the hard landing. The passenger stated that during the approach to landing the balloon oscillated and on landing the basket swung into a mound of dirt.
the pilot's failure to maintain proper descent rate.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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