Flight Details
The balloon, carrying a pilot and 15 passengers on a tourist flight, departed from Çat Bölgesi at 03:20 UTC. The flight was planned for one hour. During descent near Karacaşar, the pilot reported an increase in wind strength and instructed passengers to assume landing positions. The balloon made a hard landing at 03:53 UTC at coordinates 38°42'24"N 34°37'03"E.
Injuries and Damage
One passenger suffered light injuries. The pilot and remaining 14 passengers were uninjured. The balloon sustained light damage; a post-accident inspection by Kapadokya Havacılık Teknolojileri Merkezi (KHTM) found no damage to the envelope, basket, ignition system, or fuel tanks. No third-party damage or injuries occurred.
Meteorological Conditions
At takeoff, the Slot Hizmet Merkezi had issued a green flag, indicating suitable meteorological conditions for balloon flights in the area. The flag was later changed to red for a subsequent period, indicating unsuitable conditions.
Aircraft and Operator Information
The balloon was a Lindstrand LBL 360-A (serial 1408) registered as TC-BPN, manufactured in 2012. It was owned and operated by Çat Balonculuk Havacılık Tur. Tic. Ltd. Şti. The aircraft's annual maintenance, conducted on 15 June 2022, was two months overdue. The balloon had not flown between 31 August 2020 and 20 July 2022. The pilot held a valid Balloon Pilot License (BPL) with Group D rating and had 724:57 total flight hours. The medical certificate included a VDL restriction.