What happened
On 11 April 2014, a Cameron Z-375 balloon, registration G-VBFR, was completing a commercial passenger flight in Corby Glen, Lincolnshire. Following a standard landing, the pilot began the process of moving the basket to a wider area of the field to facilitate deflation. During this maneuver, the wind speed increased from approximately 3–4 knots to 7–8 knots.
This sudden increase in wind prevented the disembarked passengers from maintaining their grip on the basket. To prevent the basket from being dragged, the pilot applied a short burst of heat from the burner, which caused the balloon to become airborne. The pilot then performed an immediate descent into an adjacent field, which was separated from the original location by a stream and barbed wire fencing.
Upon landing in the second field, the basket rotated slightly, causing a corner to catch the ground and the basket to tip over. During this movement, one passenger fell approximately 1.5 meters from her position in the basket, striking the underside of the inactive burner. This resulted in one minor injury (bruising to the right leg) for a passenger.
The investigation
The investigation examined the circumstances surrounding the unplanned ascent and the subsequent landing. The pilot reported that the flight had been conducted at a mass below the minimum landing weight requirement. Specifically, the pilot noted that the basket would have required at least six passengers to remain on board to meet the necessary minimum mass for a safe landing under those conditions.
Findings
- The unplanned ascent was triggered by an increase in wind speed during the deflation process.
- The pilot performed an emergency launch and landing while the aircraft was operating at less than the minimum landing mass.
- The tip-over occurred because a corner of the basket caught the ground during the landing rotation.