What happened
On July 1, 2012, a sightseeing hot air balloon flight ended with a hard landing and the overturning of the basket near the village of Kozlovice. The aircraft, a BB 100Z with registration OK-0903, was carrying a crew of two and 15 passengers.
During the flight, the pilot received radio information regarding increasing wind speeds. In response, the pilot decided to terminate the flight early and selected a grassy field approximately 1 km east of Kozlovice for landing. As the balloon descended, the pilot noted wind speeds of up to 28 km/h at 150 m AGL, which decreased as the altitude dropped. Before touchdown, the pilot instructed the passengers to hold onto the straps with both hands and keep their knees bent to prepare for a more forceful impact.
Upon contact with the ground, the basket struck the earth, bounced, and made a second contact before ultimately tipping onto its side. During the basket's movement, the force of the impact caused passengers to shift within the partitioned compartments. One passenger was struck by the weight of other passengers during the overturn, resulting in a broken upper tibia.
The investigation
The ÚZPLN investigation established that the pilot was fully qualified, held a valid medical certificate, and had sufficient flight experience. The aircraft was found to be in good technical condition with no maintenance issues noted.
The investigation also reviewed the meteorological conditions. While the pilot had consulted with meteorologists at LKMT prior to departure and found the conditions suitable, the wind intensified during the flight. The investigators noted that the pilot had correctly identified the need to land early and had provided necessary safety briefings to the passengers before the landing maneuver.
Findings
- The pilot was competent and the aircraft was airworthy.
- The landing site was appropriate for the maneuver.
- The primary cause of the incident was a hard landing and subsequent basket overturn caused by wind conditions during the landing maneuver.
- The injury to the passenger was caused by the physical impact of other passengers against her leg as the basket tipped.
- The passenger had a pre-existing lower limb condition which she had not disclosed to the pilot; had the pilot been aware, he might have placed her in a different section of the basket or advised against the flight.