What happened
On 18 February 2007, a Cameron A-140 balloon, registration G-OXBC, completed a successful flight near Standlake, Oxfordshire. Following the landing, six passengers disembarked without incident. At the time, weather conditions were favorable, with winds recorded at 5 knots from the east.
After landing, the pilot attempted to move the basket to a drier location to prepare for deflation. Because the ground was wet and slippery, the pilot began walking the balloon in an easterly direction. During this ground handling process, the pilot left the basket to lead the aircraft. A sudden gust of wind from the south caught the balloon, causing it to move toward a row of trees located to the north of the landing site. Due to the lack of traction on the slippery surface, the pilot could not arrest the movement, and the basket eventually came to a rest at the base of the trees. Consequently, the balloon envelope collapsed over the trees and draped across nearby power lines.
The investigation
Investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the ground handling of the aircraft. It was established that the area was notably wet, which significantly hindered the pilot's ability to control the basket's movement. While the power lines involved were insulated and sustained no damage, the incident required the local fire service to attend the scene to disentangle the envelope from both the trees and the electrical infrastructure. There were no injuries to the crew or any other persons during the event.