N5075H

On July 13, 2000, at 2051 central daylight time, an Aerostar S-77A balloon, N5075H, piloted by a commercial pilot, sustained no damage during landing near River Falls, Wisconsin. The 14 CFR Part 91 business flight was not on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. Three of the eight passengers were seriously injured during the landing. The pilot and the remaining passengers were not injured. The flight originated from Stillwater, Minnesota at 1940.

In a written statement, the pilot said that, during the flight he experienced wind velocities higher than had been reported. He said that he advised and briefed the passengers of the possibility of a high wind landing. He said that during the approach to landing, the wind was approximately 6 to 8 miles per hour and that, just before touchdown, the wind increased to 12 to 15 miles per hour.

Passengers reported that the pilot advised them of the possibility of a hard landing. They reported that the pilot briefed them on how to prepare for the landing. One of the witnesses reported that the balloon impacted the ground twice and came to rest on its side.

A weather report for a station located about 20 miles west-northwest of the accident site was reporting winds from 320 degrees magnetic at 10 nautical miles per hour.