THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING FLIGHT, HE ENCOUNTERED UNEXPECTED LIGHT TURBULENCE AND ELECTED TO LAND AT THE NEXT AVAILABLE SPOT. HE STATED THAT DURING A LANDING APPROACH AT ABOUT 50 FT ABOVE THE TREETOPS, A GUST OF WIND WAS ENCOUNTERED THAT FORCED HOT AIR OUT OF THE MOUTH OF THE BALLOON. REPORTEDLY, THE BALLOON THEN BEGAN A DESCENT THAT THE PILOT COULD NOT STOP BEFORE HITTING TREES. THE WIND WAS REPORTED TO BE FROM 210 DEG AT 10 GUSTING 17 KTS.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:

Contributing Factors

WEATHER CONDITION..TURBULENCE,CLEAR AIR

Contributing Factors

WEATHER CONDITION..GUSTS

Contributing Factors

OBJECT..TREE(S)

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