What happened
On the evening of August 31, 2019, a Schroeder Fire Balloons G 34/24 hot air balloon, registered as PH-HPJ, was conducting a commercial flight near Swalmen, the Netherlands. During the flight, weather conditions deteriorated rapidly, forcing the pilot to attempt a landing.
The landing process was unstable, involving several attempts to touch down. During the final descent, the basket skidded across the ground, causing the passengers to be ejected from the basket. The pilot also partially fell out of the basket during the impact. The balloon's envelope eventually came to rest against a tree line. The incident resulted in three passengers slightly injured.
The investigation
The Dutch Safety Board investigated the sequence of events leading to the uncontrolled landing and the subsequent injuries. The inquiry focused on the pilot's pre-flight preparations and the decision-making process regarding weather monitoring. The investigation examined the weather forecasts available at the time of the flight and the specific resources used by the pilot to assess flight safety.
Findings
The investigation established that the pilot was caught off guard by the sudden change in weather because he had failed to consult specialized weather forecasts specifically designed for hot air ballooning. While the pilot did consult other weather sources, these did not provide the necessary detail, and he did not interpret the available information as indicating unfavorable conditions. Consequently, the decision to proceed with the flight was based on an incomplete and outdated understanding of the atmospheric conditions. The investigation also noted that the weather was highly changeable, requiring more frequent monitoring than was performed.
Safety action
Following the findings, the investigation highlighted the necessity for balloon pilots to use a wide range of sources, specifically emphasizing the importance of specialized ballooning forecasts. A recommendation was directed to the Royal Netherlands Aeronautical Association (KNVvL) to share these lessons with its members and to reinforce proper procedures for weather consultation as part of standard ballooning airmanship.