Hot air balloon hit ground outcropping.

Attributes
ACN	421827
Time
Date	199812
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : gup
State Reference	NM
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6500 msl bound upper : 6500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Balloon
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	other other : other pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 10 flight time total : 258 flight time type : 226
ASRS Report	421827
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

I was participating in a balloon activity, launched at XA00 at southern end of red rock state park. Light wind on canyon floor, from south to north. Very leisurely flight up canyon, intended to 'pop up' over top of ridge in vicinity of church rock, and land in open area to the north. Wind picked up quickly over ridgetop creating a windshear. As I ascended, I was caught in shear, forced into side of church rock, ripping envelope on rock face. Also, force of impact damaged burner casing/coils and pilot light was extinguished. I relit pilot light, burner functioned ok, regained control and immediately and safely landed in draw directly north of church rock. To prevent this I should have: 1) been more observant of how the wind was picking up over the ridgetop. 2) stayed further away from church rock. Thankfully we had a safe landing.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HOT AIR BALLOON HIT GND OUTCROPPING.

Narrative: I WAS PARTICIPATING IN A BALLOON ACTIVITY, LAUNCHED AT XA00 AT SOUTHERN END OF RED ROCK STATE PARK. LIGHT WIND ON CANYON FLOOR, FROM S TO N. VERY LEISURELY FLT UP CANYON, INTENDED TO 'POP UP' OVER TOP OF RIDGE IN VICINITY OF CHURCH ROCK, AND LAND IN OPEN AREA TO THE N. WIND PICKED UP QUICKLY OVER RIDGETOP CREATING A WINDSHEAR. AS I ASCENDED, I WAS CAUGHT IN SHEAR, FORCED INTO SIDE OF CHURCH ROCK, RIPPING ENVELOPE ON ROCK FACE. ALSO, FORCE OF IMPACT DAMAGED BURNER CASING/COILS AND PILOT LIGHT WAS EXTINGUISHED. I RELIT PILOT LIGHT, BURNER FUNCTIONED OK, REGAINED CTL AND IMMEDIATELY AND SAFELY LANDED IN DRAW DIRECTLY N OF CHURCH ROCK. TO PREVENT THIS I SHOULD HAVE: 1) BEEN MORE OBSERVANT OF HOW THE WIND WAS PICKING UP OVER THE RIDGETOP. 2) STAYED FURTHER AWAY FROM CHURCH ROCK. THANKFULLY WE HAD A SAFE LNDG.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.