What happened
On the evening of June 24, 2018, a commercial hot air balloon flight departed from Arcen, Netherlands, carrying the pilot and seven passengers. The flight proceeded south, and after approximately one hour, the balloon reached the region northwest of Schwalmtal, Germany.
As the flight progressed, weather conditions deteriorated. The pilot noted increasing wind speeds at ground level and significant gust activity, evidenced by the movement of treetops. While attempting to land behind a 15-meter-tall treeline, the pilot initiated a descent. Despite having the fast deflation system (FDS) engaged to vent the envelope, strong gusts forced the balloon to rise again to an altitude of 5 to 10 meters above the ground.
This resulted in a very hard second impact. Witnesses observed the envelope being pushed inward by wind gusts, causing the balloon to approach the ground at a high rate of descent. The basket struck the ground a second time 40 meters from the initial contact point. The impact caused the basket to tip over and slide approximately 22 meters across a potato field. The landing resulted in one passenger being seriously injured and three others sustaining minor injuries.
The investigation
The BFU examined the aircraft, a Ultramagic N-180, and the meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. The investigation confirmed that the balloon was in good technical condition, with no mechanical failures or defects found. The pilot, who held a valid commercial pilot license, had checked the weather prior to departure but noted that while a small rain area was identified near Nijmegen, the intended flight path appeared clear of precipitation.
Investigators also reviewed meteorological data from the German Weather Service (DWD) and GAFOR forecasts. These records indicated that while light rain was expected, ground winds were predicted to increase to 5-10 knots from the northwest, with gusts reaching 12-15 knots after sunset. At the time of the accident, a nearby weather station recorded a mean wind of 14 knots.