What happened
On May 7, 2006, at approximately 19:30, a Cameron Balloons Z 105 hot air balloon, registration F-GZPM, was conducting a recreational sightseeing flight near Biran, France. The flight, which included the pilot and three passengers, departed from Le Brouilh-Maymont.
During the flight, the pilot observed a thunderstorm approaching from the west. Shortly after, the balloon encountered significant turbulence and rain as the wind direction and intensity shifted. While flying at an altitude of approximately 250 meters over a forested area, the pilot attempted an emergency landing in a nearby field. The landing was violent, causing the basket to bounce upon impact. The wind subsequently drifted the balloon into low-voltage power lines located about 10 meters above the ground. The contact caused the lines to break and snag the cables connecting the envelope to the basket. The balloon drifted across a road before coming to a halt, at which point the envelope collapsed onto a tree.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the pilot's decision-making process and the meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. Investigators examined the pilot's weather briefing, noting that he had consulted the Auch meteorological station by telephone early in the morning. However, because the station was closed in the afternoon, no further updates were obtained via that source.
Technical analysis of meteorological reports from nearby stations, including Agen, Toulouse Blagnac, and Tarbes, confirmed that weather conditions were deteriorating. Specifically, reports indicated increasing wind speeds and the presence of thunderstorms and rain in the region during the evening hours.