Background
On September 9, 2013, at 6:52 hrs local time, a hot air balloon accident occurred near Zagajewice, Poland, involving a Cameron TR 70 balloon registered as LX-BNB. The pilot was participating in the 18th Hot Air Balloon European Championship. The balloon was privately owned and operated.
Flight History
The pilot took off at 6:20 hrs from a common launch point at the Kruszyn aerodrome (EPWK) as part of the competition. The flight proceeded in North-West direction at altitudes between 20 and 250 meters above ground level (AGL) within the allocated airspace EA 141. After completing three assigned tasks, the pilot decided to land at approximately 6:40 hrs. He selected a meadow about 200 x 300 meters in size, mindful of the relatively high wind speed.
Accident Details
Approximately 200 meters before the planned touchdown point, at a height of about 2 meters, the pilot leveled the balloon and shut off the pilot lights. He adopted a low body position, leaning his back against the windward side of the basket and placing his left foot on the opposite side. During the descent, he fully pulled the parachute valve line to deflate the envelope quickly. At that moment, he noticed his left foot had become stuck between the lower cylinder strap and the basket floor. About 2–3 seconds later, the balloon touched down on the meadow. The basket came to rest approximately 15 meters from the touchdown point.
Injuries
The pilot sustained serious injuries, specifically a broken leg bone. No other injuries were reported. The balloon itself was not damaged.
Cause
The investigation conducted by the State Commission on Aircraft Accident Investigation (SCAAI) determined the cause of the accident to be an incorrect body position adopted by the pilot in the basket during the landing. No safety recommendations were proposed.