What happened
On October 19, 2012, a Schroeder fire balloons G 34/24 hot air balloon departed from a launch site near Königstein Fortress with a pilot and four passengers. The flight was originally intended to involve two balloons, but the operation was reduced to a single aircraft after damage was discovered on the parachute system of the second balloon during inflation.
After takeoff, the pilot initially encountered wind speeds of 7–10 knots at altitudes below 300 m. To alter the drift direction toward the north, the pilot climbed above 60 and encountered increased wind speeds of approximately 20 knots. Approximately 45 minutes into the flight, near Arnsdorf, the pilot descended to 200 m, noting a further increase in wind speed to roughly 25 knots, which was also reflected in the surface winds.
As the pilot initiated a landing approach, he instructed the male passengers to hold onto the front of the basket to brace for the descent. During the first low-altitude maneuver, the balloon experienced a sudden loss of lift, though the pilot managed to avoid ground contact using the burners. During a subsequent landing attempt at an altitude of 10–15 m, the balloon experienced a second sudden drop. The basket struck the ground with a forward speed of 16 knots and a descent rate of 2 m/s. The impact caused one passenger to be ejected from the basket. The pilot, who was holding the quick-release vent line, was dragged approximately 70 m behind the basket before coming to a stop.
The investigation
The BFU investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the impact and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. The investigation examined the aircraft's technical condition, the pilot's experience, and the meteorological data provided by the German Meteorological Service (DWD).
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the sudden loss of lift (sudden sinking) during the landing approach, driven by significantly increased wind speeds at low altitudes.
- While winds at higher altitudes were approximately 20 knots, the pilot noted a significant increase to 25 knots as the aircraft descended.
- The aircraft, a Schroeder fire balloons G 34/24, showed no technical defects or mechanical failures upon inspection.
- The impact resulted in one person seriously injured and three people lightly injured.