What happened
On 31 December 2021, a Kavanagh B-350 hot-air balloon, operating under the registration VH BSW, was preparing for a scenic charter flight near Glenburn, north of the Yarra Valley, Victoria. The flight, operated by Picture This Ballooning, carried one pilot and 16 passengers. Following a standard pre-flight safety briefing, the aircraft departed with the intention of landing near Yarra Glen.
Approximately 42 minutes into the scheduled one-hour flight, the pilot was notified that surface winds near the intended landing site were intensifying. Over the subsequent 17 minutes, the pilot evaluated various alternative landing sites as the wind conditions continued to deteriorate. During an attempt to land in a field, the balloon made a hard impact with the ground, resulting in two passengers sustaining serious injuries.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the impact and the decision-making process regarding landing sites. Investigators examined the changing meteorological conditions and the pilot's assessment of available landing options as wind speeds increased during the final stages of the flight.