What happened
On August 28, 2022, a Kubicek BB85Z hot air balloon, registration EC-NIT, was conducting a commercial sightseeing flight near Bascuñana de San Pedro, Cuenca, Spain. The aircraft, operated by Statos Viajes, S.L., was carrying one pilot and 11 passengers.
During the landing phase, at an altitude of approximately 25 meters, the balloon encountered a sudden downward wind gust. This caused a rapid descent and a hard impact with the ground, which subsequently led to the basket bouncing and tipping over before sliding to a halt. While most occupants were uninjured, one passenger reported broken ribs two days after the event. The aircraft sustained no damage.
The investigation
The investigation examined the meteorological conditions, the aircraft's weight and balance, and the crew's adherence to safety procedures. Investigators analyzed weather data from AEMET, which confirmed the presence of a low-level thermal inversion and significant vertical wind shear in the area.
Regarding the aircraft's loading, the investigation found that the balloon was flying near its maximum allowable weight for the specific atmospheric conditions, though it remained within legal limits. The pilot had conducted a pre-flight inspection and provided a safety briefing to all passengers, instructing them on the correct safety position to adopt during landing.
Findings
- The primary cause of the hard landing was a downward wind gust resulting from a low-level thermal inversion and pronounced vertical wind shear.
- The passenger's injury was attributed to mutual interference between two passengers. One passenger attempted to protect another with their arm, preventing both from properly adopting the instructed safety position.
- The aircraft was operating near its maximum weight limit for the prevailing temperature and altitude.
Safety action
Following the incident, the operator implemented measures to reinforce safety briefings. Specifically, the operator now emphasizes the necessity of passengers strictly adhering to the safety position without any physical contact or interference with other passengers during landing maneuvers.