What happened
On August 16, 2021, an Ultramagic M-160 hot air balloon, registration I-VECO, completed a commercial flight near Bibbiano, Italy. The flight, which carried four passengers, had departed from Buonconverento approximately one hour earlier. The aircraft landed successfully on a trailer used for transport.
Following the disembarkation of the passengers, the balloon began to lift off again because the envelope was still filled with hot air. The pilot and a ground assistant attempted to restrain the basket by grabbing the external handles. While the ground assistant managed to let go after being lifted a few meters, the pilot remained clinging to the exterior of the basket. After approximately 10 to 15 seconds of struggling, the pilot fell from an estimated height of 30 to 40 meters, sustaining fatal injuries upon impact with the ground. The balloon eventually landed nearby with only minor damage.
The investigation
The ANSV investigation examined the flight logs, the aircraft's maintenance records, and witness testimonies from passengers and ground personnel. Investigators noted that the pilot was properly licensed but had limited experience specifically with this larger aircraft type.
Technical inspections of the I-VECO revealed that the burner was still operational and the pilot lights were still burning when authorities arrived, which deviated from the operator's manual instructions to extinguish them before touchdown. Furthermore, the investigation found that the rapid deflation system (FDS) and the parachute lines were still secured to a single carabiner inside the basket, indicating the pilot had not deployed them to neutralize the balloon's lift before exiting the craft.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the pilot's failure to follow established safety procedures and precautions during the post-landing phase.
- The pilot failed to follow the fundamental safety principle—mandated by both the manufacturer's flight manual and the operator's manual—to immediately release the basket if lifted from the ground.
- The pilot did not deploy the deflation systems to reduce buoyancy before exiting the basket.
- Limited flight experience on this specific aircraft model may have contributed to the error.
- The attempt to land directly on a trailer to simplify post-flight operations likely led to task saturation for the pilot and the ground assistant.