What happened
On 8 June 2019, a CHAIZE DC2000 hot air balloon, registered F-HGAY, was participating in a balloon festival at the Parc de Déomas in Annonay, France. Shortly after 07:00, the pilot commenced a leisure flight with one passenger. During the flight, the pilot observed that wind conditions were pushing the balloon toward the Rhone Valley, an area she had previously designated as a flight limit due to industrial zones and infrastructure.
To avoid crossing this boundary, the pilot decided to abort the flight and identified a landing site in a field approximately 800 meters upstream from a high-voltage power line. As the descent began, the balloon encountered unexpected, strong westerly gusts. These gusts pushed the balloon toward the power lines, causing the pilot to miss the intended landing field. Faced with the immediate proximity of the electrical lines and lacking the altitude to climb over them, the pilot executed an emergency descent at a high vertical speed.
Upon ground contact, the balloon's valve was closed, which delayed the deflation of the envelope. The basket hit the ground with significant force, bounced, and tipped onto its side, sliding several dozen meters before coming to a stop. The passenger sustained one broken nose and one broken ankle.
The investigation
The BEA examined the meteorological conditions, the pilot's experience, and the technical aspects of the aircraft. Investigators analyzed local weather data, which indicated that while general conditions were stable, a localized aerological phenomenon—likely a valley breeze caused by temperature differentials between the summits and the valley floor—had generated sudden gusts near the ground.
The investigation also reviewed the pilot's familiarity with the specific burners installed on the F-HGAY for that flight, noting they were different from those the pilot typically used. Additionally, the investigators looked into the sequence of events during the impact, specifically why the deflation of the balloon was delayed.