What happened
On September 26, 2003, a Schröder/Fire G hot air balloon departed from Strausberg for a private flight intended to serve as training for a distance record attempt. The flight, carrying the pilot and two passengers, aimed to reach the Baltic coast. During the flight, the pilot maintained low altitudes and experienced varying wind speeds.
As the flight approached Anklam, the pilot began a descent from over 2,000 ft. The landing was characterized by high ground speeds and a significant descent rate. Upon the initial impact with the flat terrain north of Anklam, the descent rate exceeded 2 m/s. The force of this hard landing caused the pilot to be ejected from the basket. While the balloon briefly ascended again, the pilot instructed the passengers to pull the parachute line to prevent further uncontrolled flight. Following this action, the balloon descended rapidly for a second time, striking the ground with a high sink rate. The impact resulted in two serious injuries and one minor injury.
The investigation
The BFU investigation examined the flight path using data from an onboard satellite navigation device. The investigation focused on the meteorological conditions, the manufacturer's operating limitations, and the sequence of events following the pilot's ejection. Investigators also reviewed the pilot's experience and the passengers' training.
Findings
- The ground winds during the landing were significantly higher than the manufacturer's recommended limit of 11 kt. Forecasts had indicated gusts between 15 and 20 kt, and actual conditions at the time of landing involved gusts of up to 20 kt due to thermal activity.
- The pilot intentionally planned a flight that would exceed the aircraft's operational limits to facilitate record training.
- The pilot was ejected from the basket during the first impact, leaving the aircraft without a pilot.
- The passengers, who were inexperienced, were forced to manage the parachute deployment themselves under extreme physical forces.
- The primary cause of the accident was the decision to operate the balloon in wind conditions exceeding its certified operational limits, which led to the high-impact landing and the subsequent loss of pilot control.