What happened
On 4 April 2014, a Cameron Z-375 balloon, registration G-VBFS, was conducting a commercial passenger flight near Levens, Cumbria. The weather conditions at the time of the incident were clear with good visibility. As the flight approached a potential landing site approximately 2 nautical miles from the town of Levens, the pilot identified a field that appeared suitable for landing.
During the descent, the pilot noted the presence of electrical power lines on two sides of the field, positioned before the intended touchdown point. As the balloon moved over the near corner of the chosen field at a speed of approximately 7 knots, the pilot identified additional power lines running diagonally across the balloon's flight path. These lines were positioned at the same height as the aircraft's 'scoop'.
In an attempt to avoid a collision, the pilot engaged a control line to trigger a rapid deflation of the envelope. However, the power lines struck the balloon roughly 1 metre below the top of the scoop, causing the cables to break. The impact resulted in no injuries to the single crew member or the 16 passengers on board, though the aircraft sustained damage to its scoop, several flying wires, and the severed electrical lines.
The investigation
Investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the approach and the visibility of the obstacles. The pilot had performed a prior check of the landing field for potential hazards but had failed to detect the lines in question. The investigation established that the cables were notably thin and that the supporting poles were obscured, making them difficult to identify during the initial approach.