What happened
On 6 April 2012, a Cameron Z-350 balloon, registration G-CCSA, was conducting a commercial passenger flight near Bath. The flight, which carried one crew member and 15 passengers, lasted approximately one hour following a launch from a local site. During the descent toward a field for landing, the pilot noted that while the weather remained generally fine, the cold temperatures and surface winds of 4 kt from 030°(M) were creating slightly thermic conditions.
As the aircraft approached the landing site, a sudden change in wind direction occurred. This shift caused the balloon to make contact with a tree, resulting in two fabric panels of the envelope being ripped. Following the impact, the balloon landed safely. One passenger sustained a minor injury involving back pain and was transported to a hospital for precautionary observation, though they were later discharged with only bruising.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The inquiry focused on the flight conditions during the final approach and the impact with the tree. The pilot, who held a commercial licence and had significant experience on this aircraft type, had noted the changing atmospheric conditions prior to the incident.