What happened
On September 1, 2016, a private hot air balloon flight departed from a meadow near the Odra River in Opole at 18:50 LMT. The pilot, who had 38 flight hours as commander, prepared the Linstrand LBL 105A (registration SP-BES) and provided safety instructions to three passengers regarding proper body positioning for landing. The flight proceeded as planned, heading southeast for approximately 50 minutes.
During the approach to landing, the pilot again instructed the passengers on the necessary landing posture. The balloon landed on a flat meadow with an estimated horizontal speed of 1–2 m/s. The basket came to an almost immediate halt, and the pilot and passengers exited the aircraft on their own. At the time of landing, no injuries were reported by anyone on board.
The investigation
The investigation was conducted by the user. The following day, the pilot learned that one passenger had begun experiencing discomfort in her lower limbs after returning home. The investigation reviewed video footage provided to the Commission, which confirmed that the pilot had correctly briefed the passengers on safety procedures both before takeoff and before landing. The footage showed the injured passenger wearing flat-soled shoes and walking without difficulty immediately after the landing. The investigation found no evidence of an excessive vertical descent rate during the touchdown.
Findings
- The passenger sustained minor injuries to her lower limbs.
- The exact cause of the passenger's injuries could not be determined, as the passenger was unable to identify the specific moment or mechanism of injury, and the landing posture taken by the passenger at the moment of impact could not be verified.