What happened
On 10 August 2003, a Sky 2260-24 hot air balloon, registration G-KTKT, was conducting a passenger flight from York toward Stockton on the Forest. The flight, which included one crew member and 12 passengers, initially proceeded under good weather conditions. As the pilot approached the intended landing site in a large stubble field, the presence of several power lines, including pylon-suspended wires, was noted near the target area.
During the descent, the balloon drifted toward these wires, prompting the pilot to attempt a revised landing point on the far side of the cables. However, fluctuating wind conditions caused the balloon to drift back toward the pylons during multiple attempts. The pilot attempted to climb to 2,000 feet to find better wind, but the balloon remained stationary over the wires for approximately ten minutes.
To avoid running out of fuel and to prevent the balloon from being carried into the wires, the pilot decided to execute a controlled but rapid descent into the middle of the field, between the wires. The pilot briefed the passengers to brace for a heavy impact. The basket struck the ground with significant force, bouncing roughly 20 feet into the air before coming to rest. While the crew remained uninjured, one passenger sustained a serious injury consisting of a broken ankle.
The investigation
The investigation established that the pilot had been managing a difficult landing environment characterized by negligible wind and unpredictable shifts. The pilot noted that the drop in wind speed, likely influenced by local topography, made a standard approach impossible. The investigation also noted that the flight duration had extended to one hour and forty-five minutes, leaving only eight minutes of gas remaining at the time of landing. The pilot's decision to perform a vertical landing was driven by the need to avoid the power lines and the necessity of conserving fuel.
Findings
- The primary cause of the hard landing was the unpredictable and minimal wind conditions, which prevented a standard approach to the landing site.
- The pilot's decision to perform a rapid, vertical landing was a deliberate maneuver to avoid contact with power lines and to manage the dwindling fuel supply.
- The heavy impact was a direct result of the chosen landing technique required by the environmental constraints.