What happened
On February 9, 2020, an Ultramagic T-180 hot air balloon, registration EC-KMB, was conducting a commercial flight near Mingorría, Ávila. After an initial delay due to variable wind conditions, the balloon departed at approximately 09:25 local time. The flight proceeded northward at low altitudes for about one hour.
During the landing phase, the pilot identified a suitable landing area west of Mingorría. However, as the balloon descended, it encountered undulating terrain. The basket struck a pile of stones located on a ridge at the edge of a plowed field. This impact caused the basket to rotate relative to the direction of travel. Following the collision, the pilot managed to clear the obstacle and continued the descent, eventually touching down on a different, uncultivated plot of land approximately 195 meters away. The basket dragged across the ground for 25 meters before coming to a complete stop.
While the pilot and seven passengers remained uninjured, one passenger sustained serious injuries that left them immobilized, requiring medical assistance.
The investigation
The CIAIAC investigation examined the flight sequence, the terrain, and the meteorological conditions. The investigation established that the pilot was operating with a valid license and medical certificate, and the aircraft's documentation was in order.
Investigators analyzed the terrain, noting that the area consisted of undulating plots with varying shades of brown, which made it difficult to visually distinguish changes in slope and elevation from a top-down perspective. The investigation also reviewed the wind conditions, noting that while the wind was within operational limits, the pilot experienced a ground speed of approximately 28–29 km/h during the landing, which increased the difficulty of the maneuver.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a pilot error in estimating the slopes and elevation changes of the terrain in the chosen landing area.
- The undulating nature of the terrain, combined with the lack of vegetation and uniform coloring of the fields, obscured the visibility of ground gradients.
- The balloon's trajectory took it lower than the subsequent terrain it was intended to overfly, leading to the collision with the stone pile.
- The impact with the stones caused the basket to tilt and rotate, preventing the pilot from repositioning the basket to a proper landing angle (longitudinal) within the short 25-to-30-second window available before the second touchdown.