What happened
On July 7, 2011, a commercial hot air balloon flight departed from an external launch site on the western outskirts of Bremen, approximately three kilometers north of Bremen Airport. The flight, operated by a German commercial enterprise, carried the pilot and eleven passengers.
After ascending to approximately 900 feet and traveling northwest, the pilot decided to land after the flight speed decreased to under two knots. During the descent, the balloon encountered a west-northwest airflow at an altitude of 100 to 150 feet, traveling at nine to eleven knots, which drifted the balloon toward the Bremen city center. The pilot selected a fallow field in the industrial port area as a landing site.
As the balloon approached the ground, the wind direction shifted from west-northwest to west-southwest. This change caused the balloon to drift at approximately seven knots toward an industrial facility. Despite the pilot's attempt to use the rapid deflation system, the balloon missed the intended landing area and collided with a light mast and a warehouse. The balloon eventually came to rest on the arched roof of the warehouse. The pilot successfully separated the envelope from the burner frame, and the passengers were evacuated from the roof via a fire department ladder approximately one hour later.
The investigation
The BFU investigation examined the flight sequence, meteorological conditions, and the pilot's credentials. The investigation confirmed that the pilot held a valid commercial license for hot air balloons of class 3 and possessed the necessary night flight and external launch authorizations. Meteorological data from the Bremen airport (EDDW) and pre-flight reports were reviewed to assess the wind conditions at the time of the incident.
Findings
- The primary cause of the collision was a sudden change in wind direction near the ground, which drifted the balloon into an industrial area.
- The pilot's attempt to land on a specific grassy area was unsuccessful due to the shifting winds.
- There were no injuries to the pilot or the eleven passengers.
- While there was no damage to the Cameron Balloons Ltd. A-250 balloon, the incident resulted in damage to a light mast and a building.