What happened
On June 7, 2019, at approximately 19:00 LMT, a Libert L 3000 hot air balloon departed from Gdów, Poland, for a training flight. The flight proceeded in a northwesterly direction under favorable meteorological conditions and good visibility. After roughly one hour of flight over forested areas, the pilot decided to land in the vicinity of Raciborsko, near Wieliczka, due to low fuel levels.
At approximately 20:20 LMT, the pilot began a descent at a rate of 1 m/s toward a field. During the approach, the pilot was navigating past residential buildings and an overhead power line. Upon touchdown in a 60 x 80 meter meadow, the pilot activated the parachute valve to vent hot air and reduce the balloon's buoyancy. As the air was released, the envelope drifted with the wind and settled onto the wires of a 15 kV power line, resulting in the breakage of the upper conductor.
All occupants exited the basket without injury. Following the incident, power to the line was disconnected, allowing the envelope to be safely removed from the wires. The envelope remained undamaged throughout the event.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation confirmed that the balloon was airworthy, properly insured, and possessed all necessary technical documentation. The pilot held a valid BPL license and the appropriate qualifications for the flight. Additionally, a police breathalyzer test confirmed the pilot was not under the influence of alcohol (0.00 mg/l).
Findings
- The pilot and passengers sustained no injuries.
- Atmospheric conditions were not a contributing factor to the incident.
- The primary cause of the event was the selection of a landing site from an altitude that was too low, which prevented the pilot from detecting the power lines that were obscured by tall trees and nearby buildings during the final approach.