What happened
A passenger flight involving nine passengers and two crew members departed from a launch site in north Cornwall on 9 August 2005. The flight, conducted in a Lindstrand LBL 317A balloon, registration G-CDHN, initially proceeded with good weather conditions and a steady track towards Liskeard. During the flight, the occupants observed several military jet aircraft performing maneuvers in the vicinity.
As the pilot approached a field near Old Park Farm, the rate of descent suddenly increased to 600 fpm. Despite the use of full burners, the balloon struck the ground with significant force. The basket began to slide across the terrain, striking several obstructions. During this high-speed ground slide, three passengers were ejected from the basket. The basket continued to tumble across multiple fields, eventually striking a wall and coming to a halt.
The investigation
The AAIB investigation examined the flight path, weather conditions, and the movement of nearby military aircraft. Radar and on-board recordings from Tornado jet aircraft confirmed that several jets had operated in the area between 1910 and 1930 hrs. While the aircraft passed near the balloon's flight path, the investigation focused on the timing and proximity of these jets to the balloon's final approach.
Investigators also reviewed the pilot's use of the rapid deflation mechanism and the subsequent attempt to re-inflate the canopy. The investigation noted that while the pilot attempted to stabilize the balloon by partially closing the top of the canopy, the loss of heat prevented a successful recovery, leading to a second, even harder landing.
Findings
- The landing resulted in two serious injuries (one passenger and one crew member) and several minor injuries.
- The balloon experienced a sudden, high-rate descent during the final approach to the landing site.
- There was no evidence that wake turbulence from the military aircraft caused the sudden descent, as the jets had passed the area well before the balloon's touchdown.
- The extreme ground slide and subsequent tumbling of the basket were driven by considerable forward momentum and a potential local wind effect.