What happened
On the morning of 7 January 2012, a Cameron Balloons Limited A210 hot-air balloon departed from near Carterton in the Wairarapa region for a commercial excursion. The flight, carrying one pilot and 10 passengers, initially proceeded under favorable weather conditions with light winds. After approximately 35 minutes of flight, the pilot began a descent to prepare for landing near the Somerset Road area.
As the balloon drifted at low altitudes—between 5 and 7 meters—over a silage paddock, it approached 33-kilovolt power lines. A sudden shift in wind direction pushed the balloon toward the wires. In an attempt to clear the obstacle, the pilot applied the burners to climb; however, the basket became snagged on the lines. Shortly after, an electrical arc caused a fire in the basket and ruptured an LPG cylinder, fueling the blaze. During the ensuing chaos, two passengers jumped from the basket at an altitude of roughly 20 meters, sustaining fatal injuries. The heat from the fire eventually caused the balloon envelope to fail, leading to a rapid ascent and subsequent collapse. The pilot and the remaining 8 passengers also died from their injuries, bringing the total to 11 fatalities.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the pilot's maneuvers and the environmental hazards present during the descent. Investigators examined the flight path, the mechanical state of the Cameron Balloons Limited A210, and the pilot's physiological condition. While the investigation found no mechanical defects or maintenance issues contributing to the crash, it scrutinized the pilot's decision-making during the encounter with the power lines.
Findings
Technical analysis revealed that the pilot's decision to descend below the height of the power lines while crossing the paddock was an unsafe maneuver. Furthermore, when the collision with the wires became inevitable, the pilot attempted to climb rather than following manufacturer guidelines, which advise a rapid descent to mitigate impact consequences.
Crucially, toxicology results indicated the presence of THC in the pilot's blood, stemming from both recent and long-term cannabis use. The Commission determined that impaired judgment and decision-making due to the effects of cannabis were contributing factors to the accident.