What happened
On 25 June 2023, a Cameron Z105 hot air balloon, registered F-HOFA, was performing a commercial sightseeing flight near Saint-Christoly-Médoc. During the descent, the pilot encountered increasing wind speeds and a shift in wind direction. To avoid flying over the Gironde estuary, which would have required additional logistical arrangements, the pilot decided to perform an immediate landing in a tall grass area bordering the river.
In an attempt to stop the balloon quickly before ground contact, the pilot utilized the rapid deflation system. This action likely increased the descent rate, causing the basket to bounce upon impact with the ground. As the envelope collapsed onto the load frame, the cables securing the envelope to the basket slackened. During this movement, one of the cables wrapped around the pilot's neck. As the basket tipped onto its side, the cables became taut, resulting in the pilot being strangled. The pilot managed to use his hand to create space and eventually freed himself from the constriction.
The investigation
The investigation examined the pilot's flight maneuvers, the meteorological conditions, and the mechanical behavior of the balloon's rigging. The pilot, who held a commercial rating and had approximately 500 flight hours, reported that the wind had increased to approximately 12-15 km/h during the approach. The investigation also consulted the manufacturer, Cameron, regarding the possibility of cables slackening and retightening during hard landings.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was a hard landing and subsequent bounce caused by the pilot's rapid use of the deflation line to stop the balloon quickly.
- The pilot's decision to land urgently to avoid the estuary may have contributed to the high descent rate.
- The mechanical sequence involved the envelope collapsing onto the load frame, which caused the cables to slacken and then become taut again as the basket tipped, trapping the pilot.
- The pilot sustained burns to his neck and required two stitches near the carotid artery, resulting in a brief period of medical incapacity.