N3750D

DURING A PLEASURE BALLOON RIDE, THE BALLOON LIFTED OFF IN A SOUTHERLY DIRECTION THEN SHIFTED TO A SOUTH EASTERLY DIRECTION. THE PLT FELT THAT THE BALLOONS RESPONSE TIME FOR ADEQUATE LIFT TOOK TOO LONG. THE BALLOON BEGAN DRIFTING TOWARD 50 TO 60 FT POWER LINES. THE PLT DECIDED AT APRX 50 FT AGL TO LAND THE BALLOON. THE PILOT PULLED THE TOP OUT OF THE BALLOON WHICH DESCENDED RAPIDLY COLLIDING WITH THE TERRAIN. THE BALLOON CAME TO REST APRX 100 FT FROM THE POWER LINES.

DURING A LOCAL SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT UPON LIFT-OFF THE WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE CLEAR AND CALM. DURING THE FLIGHT, HOWEVER, THE WIND CONDITIONS HAD INCREASED FROM A WESTERLY DIRECTION AT A VELOCITY OF 12 KNOTS, GUSTING TO 15. THE PILOT DECIDED TO TERMINATE THE FLIGHT AND PREPARED THE PASSENGERS FOR A HIGH WIND LANDING. PRIOR TO TOUCH-DOWN A GUST OF WIND PUSHED THE BALLOON TOWARDS A MOBILE HOME, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A RE-HEAT TO GAIN ALTITUDE, HOWEVER, BEFORE ENOUGH ALTITUDE WAS GAINED THE BASKET STRUCK THE HOME. THE BALLOON THEN CLEARED THE HOME AND LANDED APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES FROM THE INITIAL COLLISION WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THE PLTS FLT TIME WAS NOT REPORTED OR AVAILABLE