What happened
On 14 June 2017, a Sky 220-24 hot air balloon, registration G-SPEL, was conducting a commercial passenger flight near Samlesbury, Lancashire. The flight, carrying six passengers and two crew members, proceeded uneventfully through the cruise phase at approximately 1,000 ft agl. As the balloon approached the leeward side of Longridge Fell, the pilot identified a landing field and noted an increase in wind speed to roughly 9 kt.
During the descent, the pilot warned the passengers of a potentially steep and hard landing. As the aircraft descended over a tree, the basket struck the ground firmly on one edge. The impact caused the basket to tip onto its side, and the balloon was dragged approximately 3 and 30 metres by the wind. During this tipping motion, a passenger fell from their compartment, passing between other passengers before exiting the basket entirely. The passenger sustained serious injuries, including a fractured groin, and experienced psychological trauma.
The investigation
The AAIB examined the circumstances surrounding the landing and the effectiveness of the pre-flight safety briefing. While the pilot stated that passengers were instructed on proper landing posture—including bending knees and gripping rope handles—some passengers reported that the specific instruction to keep shoulders below the basket rim was not communicated. There were also conflicting accounts regarding whether the pilot had warned that the basket might tip over.
Investigators also looked into the roles of the crew during the flight. While some passengers suggested the crew member was managing the controls during the landing phase, the pilot maintained that the crew member only operated the burners under instruction during the cruise portion of the flight. The investigation could not definitively establish who was at the controls at the moment of impact.
Findings
- The landing was characterized by a high horizontal ground speed and a firm impact on the edge of the basket.
- The passenger likely fell because they were not holding the rope handles with sufficient strength during the impact.
- Discrepancies existed between the pilot's briefing and the passengers' recollection of safety instructions.
- The passenger's attention may have been diverted during the initial safety briefing, potentially leading to a misunderstanding of the required landing posture.