What happened
On April 3, 1999, a Schröder Fire Balloons hot air balloon carrying eight passengers was conducting a commercial flight when deteriorating weather conditions forced an emergency landing attempt. After approximately 30 minutes of flight, the crew observed darkening clouds and the onset of rain. While attempting to reach a suitable landing site, the balloon was caught by sudden, strong winds at a low altitude.
The turbulence caused the balloon envelope to be repeatedly pressed inward by gusts, leading to a significant loss of lift that the burners could not compensate for. The aircraft struck the ground with an estimated forward speed of 30 km/h and a descent rate of 3 m/s. The impact and subsequent dragging across the terrain caused the basket to overturn. During the sequence of two long dragging paths, four individuals—including the pilot—were ejected from the basket. Two passengers sustained serious injuries during the event. The aircraft sustained heavy damage, and the envelope became entangled in trees.
The investigation
The BFU investigation examined the pre-flight weather briefings, which included telephone consultations and a weather fax. While the briefings had noted the possibility of showers and wind speeds of approximately 20 knots near weather fronts, the pilot proceeded with the flight at 18:10. The investigation also reviewed the technical state of the aircraft and the actions taken by the crew during the descent.
No technical defects were found in the aircraft's systems, and the balloon was properly licensed for commercial operations with a correct load.
Findings
- The pilot likely underestimated the approaching weather front, only recognizing the severity of the change once the flight was underway.
- Sudden gusts caused the balloon envelope to lose its shape, resulting in a loss of buoyancy that could not be corrected by burner use.
- The rapid acceleration and impact forces during the landing exceeded the expectations of the inexperienced passengers, contributing to their ejection from the basket.
- The pilot only partially utilized the rapid deflation system during the initial ground contact.
Safety action
- The timely and decisive use of the rapid deflation system during the first ground contact would likely have prevented the multiple hard impacts and shortened the dragging distance.