What happened
On July 3, 2015, a commercial hot air balloon flight involving a pilot and eight passengers experienced a sequence of events leading to a hard landing near Sommerfeld. The flight, utilizing a Schroeder / fire-balloons G balloon, proceeded northwest from its launch site. During the final approach, the pilot attempted several landing maneuvers, which were interrupted due to changing wind conditions near the ground.
During the final landing attempt, the balloon passed closely over a row of poplar trees. The basket struck the treetops, causing the aircraft to enter a period of heavy descent. The impact with the ground was hard, causing the basket to tilt. During this impact, the pilot was thrown from the basket, trailing behind the aircraft while holding onto a line. The balloon then briefly ascended again, reaching an altitude of approximately 20 to 30 meters. During this uncontrolled phase, passengers attempted to manage the burner and the vent line to maintain control. The flight concluded when the balloon made a second contact with the ground approximately 500 meters later, eventually coming to rest after sliding for about 30 meters.
The investigation
The BFU investigation examined the meteorological conditions, the pilot's preparation, and the aircraft's technical state. Investigators found that while the pilot had reviewed weather reports, the interpretation of the wind conditions was insufficient. Specifically, a low-level jet was present, causing wind speeds to increase sharply with altitude. The pilot did not utilize a test balloon to assess the wind profile at the launch site, as recommended by the manufacturer.
Furthermore, the investigation noted that the pilot did not use the 'Paraquick' rapid deflation system, which could have prevented the balloon from re-ascending after the initial impact. The investigation also identified that the pilot's burner performance may have been slightly reduced due to a gas cylinder with low fuel levels. Additionally, discrepancies were noted in the documentation of the pilot's required check flights.