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Steamboat Springs — A Boulder man died when he fell out of a hot air balloon in Steamboat Springs, authorities said. The balloon operator believes the fall may have been intentional.

Routt County Coroner Rob Ryg identified the man as John Lippincott, 54. He fell about 700 feet and landed in an open field behind the Steamboat Springs Christian Center, near U.S. Highway 40 and Dougherty Lane. The incident occurred at about 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Captain Joel Rae of the Steamboat Springs Police Department said numerous law enforcement and public safety agencies responded to the incident.

Lora Wyman, a customer service representative for Wild West Balloon Adventures of Steamboat, said Lippincott was "on the side of the basket repeatedly" during the balloon ride, which began at about 8 a.m. from the same location as the landing.

Wyman cited statements from Wild West employee Shelley Felch, who was on the ground during the flight. Wyman said certified balloon pilot Ian Cox repeatedly asked Lippincott to follow safety rules and get down from the side of the basket.

Lippincott apparently ignored safety rules, Wyman said, and fell to the ground near the end of the flight as Cox was trying to land.

"The man apparently was just sitting on the edge of the basket and leaned backward and let himself go," Wyman said. "It was a terrible situation... It happened so fast. There was little anybody could do, once he decided that was what he was going to do."

Rae said the incident is still under investigation, but criminal activity is not likely.

"There is no indication of anything criminal or any foul play taking place," Rae said. "It is being investigated as an accident or a suicide at this point."

In addition to Cox and Lippincott, Rae said four other passengers were on the flight: two teenage girls from Missouri, ages15 and 16, and a boyfriend and girlfriend from Massachusetts, both 22.

"It's awful for people to see something like that," Wyman said. "We've never had an incident like this - (the man) just decided he was going to jump."

Rae said the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board, or NTSB, were notified of the incident.

According to NTSB statistics, eight fatalities have occurred on hot air balloon rides nationwide in the past five years.

Rae would not comment on whether alcohol or drugs led to Lippincott's fall, saying such factors are part of the ongoing investigation.

Cox passed his FAA Flight Exam in 1982, and has logged over 3,500 flights. He has lived in Steamboat for 27 years.

Wyman said there was no problem with the balloon or pilot error in the incident. She said Cox was likely trying to land the balloon earlier than scheduled, while simultaneously attempting to manage the situation on board.

"It just speaks to what a wonderful pilot he is," she said.