What happened
On July 6, 2008, a Schröder Fire hot air balloon departed from a site south of Herzberg for a non-commercial flight carrying four people. After an initial flight path heading north, passing over Herzberg and the Holzdorf airspace, the pilot observed precipitation moving in from the south.
As the weather worsened, the pilot initiated a rapid descent to reach a suitable landing site. During this descent, gusty winds caused the balloon envelope to deform. The pilot warned the passengers that a hard landing was imminent. The basket struck the ground at a descent rate of approximately 3 m/s, dragging for 100–120 meters. Despite the deployment of the parachute system, the balloon gained altitude again to about 40–50 meters before descending at a high rate of speed. The basket struck the ground a second time, dragging through a cornfield for an additional 60 meters before coming to rest.
As a result of the two heavy impacts, two passengers sustained serious injuries.
The investigation
The BFU examined the aircraft, the pilot's credentials, and the meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. The pilot held a valid license since 1996 and had significant flight experience. The technical inspection of the Schröder Fire balloon revealed no mechanical defects; the propane levels were sufficient, and the parachute system was fully functional. No damage was found on the aircraft or its equipment.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the rapid descent into deteriorating weather conditions.
- Approaching weather fronts caused ground winds to increase from the south-southeast.
- Gusty winds during the descent led to the deformation of the balloon envelope, contributing to the unstable landing sequence.