What happened
On August 23, 2017, during the European Hot Air Balloon Championship in Brissac-Quincé, France, two racing-style hot air balloons collided in mid-air. The incident occurred during an evening competition flight involving a Kubiçek BB17XR, registration OK-1seb, and a Schroeder G18-24 Mistral, registration D-OSFS.
As the pilots maneuvered to reach specific competition targets, the two aircraft moved into conflicting vertical paths. The pilot of the D-OSFS was descending at a rate of approximately 2.1 m/s, while the pilot of the OK-1138 was ascending at approximately 3.6 m/s. During this simultaneous ascent and descent, the basket of the D-OSFS struck the top of the OK-1138 envelope near the parachute area. The impact tore the envelope of the OK-1138, causing the balloon to lose buoyancy and descend rapidly. The OK-1138 performed a hard landing against a winery hangar wall, which prevented the basket from overturning but resulted in two injuries to the crew. The pilot of the D-OSFS was uninjured.
The investigation
The BEA investigation examined flight data from the aircraft loggers, ground-based video footage, and pilot testimonies. The investigation focused on the visual monitoring practices during competition, the aerodynamic characteristics of "racer" balloons, and the impact of external basket attachments on envelope integrity. Investigators also reviewed the competition rules regarding vertical speed penalties and the established priority of maneuver for balloons.