What happened
On 31 July 2026, a Kubicek BB26E hot air balloon with registration SP-BOC departed from a meadow in Gruta at 03:15 UTC. The aircraft carried the pilot and two passengers. After an initial climb to approximately 50 meters above ground level (AGL), the balloon flew north towards Lake Salno Duże at a speed of about 20 km/h.
As the balloon approached the lake, it slowed to 6 km/h and turned east. It then began to climb rapidly, reaching 380 m AGL with speeds increasing to over 40 km/h. The flight path brought the balloon within 50 meters of a 110 kV high-voltage power line. After passing over the line, the pilot attempted to descend for landing on a downward slope. However, the horizontal speed increased to 46 km/h. At low altitude, the basket squeezed through a line of trees above a stream in a ravine and struck the ground at approximately 25 km/h.
The impact occurred on an upward-sloping terrain relative to the direction of flight. During the collision, the pilot and one passenger were ejected from the basket. The second passenger was partially outside the basket and exited quickly as the balloon began to rise again. The unmanned balloon climbed to over 300 m AGL, traveled approximately 1.5 km at speeds exceeding 50 km/h, and eventually landed in a forest near National Road 538.
The investigation
The State Commission for Investigation of Aviation Accidents (PKBWL) conducted an initial inspection of the accident site, the basket, and the balloon envelope. Technical examinations revealed that the burner, frame, basket, and fuel bottles showed no visible damage. However, the balloon envelope was torn in several places and locally melted. The pilot’s harness was found stowed in a protective case within the basket.
Flight parameters were recorded by an onboard DBI3 device and the pilot’s navigation tablet. These data are being analyzed to determine the sequence of events. The investigation team also reviewed police documentation and performed functional tests on the fuel installation and burner. The pilot held a valid balloon pilot license (PL.BFCL) with 101 hours 25 minutes of total flight time, including 83 hours 15 minutes as pilot-in-command. The aircraft had a valid Certificate of Airworthiness and its last technical maintenance was performed on 28 July 2026.
Findings
The preliminary report indicates that the balloon experienced uncontrolled acceleration during descent, reaching speeds significantly higher than typical for hot air balloons (up to 46 km/h). This high horizontal speed prevented a controlled landing, leading to a collision with the terrain and trees. The envelope damage suggests contact with obstacles or ground friction. No mechanical failure of the burner or fuel system was identified in the initial inspection.