What happened
On 23 September 2021, at Chambley aerodrome, a tethered hot-air balloon flight was being conducted for instructional purposes. Due to local fog banks north of the aerodrome, the crew decided to replace a planned free flight with a tethered flight. The crew included an instructor pilot, two student pilots, and a ground operator.
Following an initial ascent and descent by the first student pilot, the instructor requested that the student exit the basket to facilitate a pilot change. As the second student pilot took control and activated the burners to heat the envelope, the simultaneous reduction in weight and increase in thermal energy caused the KUBICEK BB26-E to ascend rapidly.
In a reflex action to slow the ascent, the instructor grabbed the guide rope connecting the basket to the ground to act as a counterweight. The rope became taut, and the instructor was lifted into the air. At an estimated height of approximately eight metres, the instructor let go of the rope and fell onto the paved runway, resulting in serious injuries to the instructor.