What happened
On July 8, 2011, a commercial hot air balloon flight departed from the Gilzerbaan in Tilburg, carrying twelve passengers. The flight, operated in a Cameron A-3 and 00, proceeded for approximately one hour under favorable weather conditions. As the pilot approached a landing site in a field near Giessen, the basket struck the ground and bounced twice.
During this impact, one passenger was ejected from the basket. As the basket continued its movement, it struck the passenger who had fallen outside. The individual sustained broken ribs and vertebrae, along with injuries to the eye, arm, and leg. The pilot, who was an experienced professional, immediately released the hot air from the envelope and extinguished the burners to secure the craft.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events during the landing phase and the adherence to safety protocols. The pilot had provided a comprehensive briefing before departure and repeated the instructions regarding the landing position shortly before touchdown. This position required passengers to kneel, keep their shoulders level with the basket's padding, and hold onto the internal loops.
Investigators examined conflicting accounts regarding the passenger's posture. While the passenger claimed to have followed all instructions, some witnesses suggested the individual may not have maintained the correct position, potentially having their hands over the basket railing instead of the loops. The investigation also considered the physical impact of the basket bouncing on the terrain.
Findings
- The primary cause of the ejection was likely that the passenger failed to maintain the required landing posture, or was unable to hold the position due to the physical jolting of the basket bouncing twice upon impact.
- The pilot's attention was necessarily focused on controlling the balloon and managing the descent, which may have prevented the immediate detection of a passenger's improper positioning.
- The aircraft, registration PH-FDT, was airworthy and the pilot possessed the necessary certifications and extensive experience.