What happened
On March 16, 2002, an Ultra Magic Balloon S Series bearing registration F-GTRA was participating in a hot air balloon gathering near Notre-Dame-de-Bellecombe. The pilot had inflated the envelope at 08:30 for a planned flight of approximately two hours. After a delay, the pilot departed with a passenger, though the flight was intended to include a second passenger who ultimately did not board.
During the flight, the pilot descended into a mountain gorge following a torrent. The pilot remained in the gorge for an extended period, waiting for a breeze to facilitate an exit from the terrain. As fuel levels depleted, the pilot determined there was insufficient remaining autonomy to climb back to higher altitudes to catch favorable winds and select a suitable landing site.
In an attempt to perform a precautionary landing on a road overlooking the torrent, the basket struck the edge of a parapet. This impact caused the balloon to lose stability and slide 120 meters down the slope toward the water. The basket struck the surface of the torrent vertically. The crew was unable to deflate the envelope before it fell into the water. As water entered the envelope, the resulting pressure caused the destruction of the envelope.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the loss of control during the landing maneuver and the management of the aircraft's fuel reserves. Investigators examined the meteorological conditions, which were reported as CAVOK with variable winds below 5 knots, and the pilot's decision-making process regarding the descent into the gorge.