Narrative:

While maneuvering to a target for my baggy drop in an AX7 aerostar balloon, the vent line became tangled on the tank valves. The tangled line kept the vent open for almost 15 seconds, causing a steep descent into a populated area. When I noticed the vent line obstruction, I corrected it and began filling my balloon with heat to recover from the descent. I contacted the roof of a house, and landed in the backyard (basket) before the balloon could recover from the fall. No injuries occurred and no damage to the house or balloon were seen. After landing, I returned to the house and spoke to the owner to verify the situation. Since the flight, I moved the vent line to the other side of the basket, away from any objects that might snag the line.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A HOT AIR BALLOON HIT THE ROOF OF A HOUSE.

Narrative: WHILE MANEUVERING TO A TARGET FOR MY BAGGY DROP IN AN AX7 AEROSTAR BALLOON, THE VENT LINE BECAME TANGLED ON THE TANK VALVES. THE TANGLED LINE KEPT THE VENT OPEN FOR ALMOST 15 SECONDS, CAUSING A STEEP DSCNT INTO A POPULATED AREA. WHEN I NOTICED THE VENT LINE OBSTRUCTION, I CORRECTED IT AND BEGAN FILLING MY BALLOON WITH HEAT TO RECOVER FROM THE DSCNT. I CONTACTED THE ROOF OF A HOUSE, AND LANDED IN THE BACKYARD (BASKET) BEFORE THE BALLOON COULD RECOVER FROM THE FALL. NO INJURIES OCCURRED AND NO DAMAGE TO THE HOUSE OR BALLOON WERE SEEN. AFTER LNDG, I RETURNED TO THE HOUSE AND SPOKE TO THE OWNER TO VERIFY THE SIT. SINCE THE FLT, I MOVED THE VENT LINE TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BASKET, AWAY FROM ANY OBJECTS THAT MIGHT SNAG THE LINE.

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.