What happened
On April 1, 2018, an Ultramagic T-180 hot air balloon, registration EC-LSH, operated by Fun Ballons S.L., departed from the Alhama de Murcia airfield for a local sightseeing flight. The aircraft carried one pilot and eight passengers.
After approximately 50 minutes of flight, the pilot began the approach to land in a field. As the balloon descended to an altitude of approximately 7 meters, it struck a 20 kV high-voltage power line. The impact caused electrical discharges and caused the balloon to become momentarily snagged on the cables. During the incident, two steel cables connecting the basket to the burner frame broke due to the electrical discharges.
The balloon eventually descended vertically to the ground. The pilot managed the situation by turning off the burners and instructing the passengers to evacuate once the electrical discharges had ceased. While the pilot and one passenger were uninjured, the remaining seven passengers sustained minor injuries and burns.
The investigation
The CIAIAC investigation utilized GPS data from a Garmin G1000 device, which confirmed the flight path and the timing of the collision. The investigation examined the pilot's actions, the aircraft's mechanical state, and the environmental conditions.
Investigators noted that the sun's position created a significant glare, which, combined with the position of the balloon's scoop, obscured the pilot's view of the low-hanging cables. The investigation also reviewed the operator's manual, which mandates that pilots must ensure flight safety and avoid obstructions. The investigation found that the pilot had performed a visual inspection of the landing area from a distance, but the cables were not visible at that time due to their low height.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was incorrect flight planning, which led to the direct impact with the power lines during the landing phase.
- The sun's glare significantly reduced visibility, preventing the pilot from detecting the cables.
- The pilot's familiarity with the operating area was insufficient to identify the specific hazard of the low-altitude lines during the approach.
- The passengers' adherence to safety positions (crouching and holding handles) helped mitigate the severity of the injuries during the impact and subsequent descent.