What happened
On 13 September 2022, a BB85Z hot air balloon, registration G-ELMR, was conducting a commercial passenger flight near Deighton, North Yorkshire. After approximately 50 minutes of flight time over York, the pilot initiated a descent to locate a suitable landing site.
While attempting to land in a cut field near a main road, the pilot utilized the burners for an extended period to reduce the rate of descent. Due to shifting wind directions, the pilot determined that the balloon would touch down short of the intended target field. As the aircraft descended through treetop level, the pilot issued instructions for the passengers to adopt their pre-briefed landing positions.
The balloon made a heavy touchdown on a field of short stubble, which caused the basket to bounce approximately 20 to 30 feet into the air. The flight eventually concluded when the basket came to rest in a wide ditch. During the landing sequence, one passenger sustained a serious injury and three others sustained minor injuries.
The investigation
The investigation examined the sequence of the landing and the communication between the crew and passengers. It was noted that the pilot had been using the burners for a significant duration to manage the descent rate. The noise generated by the burners during this period created a significant barrier to effective communication.
Because of the high noise levels, the pilot was unable to provide the landing instructions to the passengers until the balloon was very close to the ground. The investigation looked into whether the passengers were able to properly execute the required safety posture—which involves bracing against the basket padding—before the impact occurred.