What happened
On August 23, 2003, at approximately 06:30 UTC, a Lindstrand and Sky Hab/Sky 120-24 hot air balloon departed from Filzmoos for a sightseeing flight. The aircraft was carrying a crew of one and five passengers, with a total fuel load of four 60-liter gas cylinders weighing approximately 600 kg. During the flight, the balloon reached an altitude of roughly 3,000 meters, but a westward wind drifted the craft eastward toward Ramsau.
At approximately 08:00 UTC, the pilot attempted to land at a farm located at the eastern foot of Rittissberg. The landing site was a meadow occupied by grazing cattle. Due to limited fuel remaining, the ground support crew requested permission from the landowner to land. The landowner advised the pilot to seek an alternative landing site if fuel levels were insufficient.
Following this advice, the pilot ascended to approximately 100 meters to search for a new location. However, the wind pushed the balloon back toward the original site. In an attempt to avoid landing in the same meadow, the pilot maneuvered toward a different area, but the lack of remaining fuel prevented further ascent. Consequently, the balloon drifted into trees, with the envelope and basket brushing the treetops. As the balloon descended to approximately 2 meters above the ground, the envelope made contact with a 30 kV power line located just east of the forest. A bright flash was observed, after which the balloon completed a normal landing.
The investigation
The investigation was conducted by the Austrian Federal Safety Investigation Board (SUB) to reconstruct the sequence of events based on pilot statements, field surveys by investigators, and reports from the local police. The investigation focused on the flight path, the fuel status of the aircraft, and the impact with the electrical infrastructure.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was insufficient fuel to maintain altitude and maneuver away from obstacles.
- The balloon's envelope sustained approximately 2 square meters of burn damage due to the contact with the 30 kV power line.
- There were no injuries to the crew or the five passengers, and the basket remained undamaged.