What happened
On September 21, 2014, a Cameron A-250 hot air balloon, registration EC-JUK, operated by Flying Circus, S.L., was conducting a sightseeing flight over the Arribes del Duero Natural Park in Zamora, Spain. The flight, which included the pilot and 11 passengers, began normally from Villalcampo. However, approximately 45 minutes into the flight, the pilot observed approaching clouds with precipitation along the intended flight path.
To avoid more rugged terrain and worsening weather, the pilot decided to perform an early landing near Torregamones. During the approach, the balloon encountered surface winds between 12 and 15 knots, which were higher than anticipated. The combination of these unexpected winds and the high vertical descent rate—driven by the significant inertia of the large aerostat—caused the basket to strike the granitic terrain with great force. The impact caused the balloon to bounce approximately 3 meters into the air before settling. The collision resulted in 8 injuries, including 2 serious injuries involving lower limb fractures.
The investigation
The CIAIAC investigation examined the flight planning, meteorological conditions, and safety procedures. While the pilot's decision to land early due to approaching weather was deemed appropriate for ensuring survival, the execution of the landing maneuver was found to be flawed. The investigation noted that the pilot failed to account for the potential for wind gradients at the surface and the high vertical inertia of the aircraft.
Additionally, the investigation looked into the safety briefing and passenger positioning. It was noted that the operator's practice of instructing children to sit between the legs of adults was not documented in the manufacturer's flight manual or the operator's operations manual. This specific positioning contributed to the severity of the injuries, as the two adults carrying children taller than 1.50 meters were unable to adopt the correct safety posture (knees flexed and holding handles) during the impact.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the high impact speed of the basket against the ground, resulting from unobserved surface winds and an excessive descent rate.
- The high inertia of the Cameron A-250 contributed to the difficulty in managing the vertical descent speed.
- The severity of the injuries to two passengers was exacerbated because their physical positioning (holding children) prevented them from adopting the required safety posture.
- The operator's safety briefing included instructions regarding minors that were not supported by official operating or flight manuals.
- Emergency services were not notified by the crew or the company following the impact; instead, the ground crew transported the injured to a health center.