What happened
On 16 September 2022, a Cameron A-300 hot air balloon, registered F-HHLC, was conducting a commercial sightseeing flight near Le Liège, France. The flight, operated by France Montgolfières, carried the pilot and 1s passengers.
During the landing phase, the pilot approached a field at approximately 15 km/h. As the aircraft maneuvered over low-voltage and telephone lines, the pilot instructed passengers to adopt a pre-demonstrated safety position. Upon touchdown, the basket experienced a vertical speed of approximately 1 m/s, subsequently tipped onto its side, and dragged along the ground for about four meters. The impact caused one passenger to fall into another, resulting in one severe injury (a tibial plateau fracture) and one slight injury.
The investigation
The BEA investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the impact and the effectiveness of passenger safety measures. The investigation examined the pilot's flight preparation, including meteorological checks and the passenger briefing process. Investigators also reviewed the weather conditions, which were found to be stable with light winds, and the operational procedures of the operator, specifically regarding passenger briefings and landing instructions.
Findings
While the pilot had conducted both a pre-flight and a pre-landing briefing, the investigation established that a small group of passengers was distracted by conversation and mobile phone use during the final approach. This lack of concentration meant that some passengers were not fully prepared for the physical dynamics of the landing. The primary contributing factor to the injuries was that the passengers were surprised by the basket tipping, which prevented them from properly bracing their legs to dampen the impact. The investigation also noted that the physical limits of the passengers may have been exceeded due to the sudden nature of the maneuver.