Belgian Hot Air Balloon Hard Landing Injures Passenger

Occurrence Overview and Investigation Scope On 4 June 2022, a hot air balloon operated by a pilot with three passengers made a hard landing in a field on the eastern edge of the village of Xhendremael (Ans), Belgium. The incident resulted in one passenger suffering a complex ankle fracture, while the aircraft sustained no damage. The Belgian Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) conducted a limited-scope, fact-gathering investigation to produce a short summary report, focusing on the actions and conditions directly relating to the occurrence. The investigation was based on witness accounts from the pilot and passengers, as well as radar data. The balloon had taken off from a field in Landgraaf, The Netherlands, around 18:00 UTC, with the intention of landing in the southern part of Maastricht (Gronsveld – Eijsden). The pilot reported that wind gusts occasionally flared up during the start. Because the planned landing area was reached faster than expected, the pilot decided to cross the Maas river towards Eben-Emael to find a suitable spot. However, no suitable landing area was immediately found due to cement quarries and agricultural crops. After several attempts to land on a road, the flight continued due to high ground wind, a process that lasted for over half an hour. The balloon then encountered power lines, both medium voltage and high voltage. The passengers were warned and briefed to take the safety position, with the basket oriented with its long side perpendicular to the direction of travel. The final landing near Xhendremael was hard, causing the passengers to fall over each other. The balloon reportedly dragged for about 30 meters before coming to a stop. One passenger suffered a complex ankle fracture, and all occupants had abrasions with bleeding. The pilot and one male passenger initially did not think an ambulance was necessary, but witnesses offered to call one. Not long after crossing the Maas, the balloon entered and infringed the control zone of EBLG. The control tower tried to contact the pilot, also via the tower of EHBK, but to no avail. One departing aircraft was warned and asked to maintain a good climb rate, but this had no further impact on air traffic. The passengers had booked the flight about two months in advance via a local company with good reviews. They had to help inflate the balloon and received a brief briefing beforehand. The lift-off was different than expected, with the balloon initially tethered to a car and swaying from left to right due to a lot of wind. The pilot said he would ascend quickly to get out of the ground wind gusts. The flight itself went well, but the pilot did not immediately find a suitable landing spot. The flight duration extended beyond the expected hour, causing some unrest in the basket. After encountering a voltage line, they attempted to land in what one passenger thought was a barley field. The pilot did not announce anything before this landing. The descent was calm, but the basket tipped over, causing one passenger to fall. They went back up three times. Suddenly, they saw another high-voltage line approaching. One passenger ducked, and the pilot gave a lot of gas to get over it, attributing it to the wind. The next landing attempt was much harder, with the balloon going back up from the ground seven times. One passenger wanted to jump out, but the pilot said everyone had to stay in the basket. The balloon kept dragging until the air was out. It is unknown when the third passenger sustained the fracture. All occupants were ultimately injured with abrasions and bleeding. Witnesses immediately came over and offered to call an ambulance, but the male passenger and the pilot did not think it was necessary.