An unexpected gust broke a balloon's safety line.

Attributes
ACN	271905
Time
Date	199405
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ags
State Reference	GA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Balloon
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	ground : preflight other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 300 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	271905
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Light wind conditions (2-4 mph). Inflation was normal situation. Balloon anchored via safety line to chase vehicle. A microburst of air came very unexpectedly. Pilot immediately climbed aboard and vented fully. Wind shear increased substantially and lifted balloon and basket about 4-5 ft off ground. Force was so great that safety line tore and shredded (hemp line over 5/8 inches diameter) catapulting aircraft across parking lot until resting at pole and tree at far end, where it stood basket upright.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN UNEXPECTED GUST BROKE A BALLOON'S SAFETY LINE.

Narrative: LIGHT WIND CONDITIONS (2-4 MPH). INFLATION WAS NORMAL SIT. BALLOON ANCHORED VIA SAFETY LINE TO CHASE VEHICLE. A MICROBURST OF AIR CAME VERY UNEXPECTEDLY. PLT IMMEDIATELY CLBED ABOARD AND VENTED FULLY. WIND SHEAR INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY AND LIFTED BALLOON AND BASKET ABOUT 4-5 FT OFF GND. FORCE WAS SO GREAT THAT SAFETY LINE TORE AND SHREDDED (HEMP LINE OVER 5/8 INCHES DIAMETER) CATAPULTING ACFT ACROSS PARKING LOT UNTIL RESTING AT POLE AND TREE AT FAR END, WHERE IT STOOD BASKET UPRIGHT.

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.