Covering form of preliminary or final report

Date of event :	2011-04-22
Incident number :
Report :	Final report
Place of event :	Brugge – Oostende
Registration mark :	Accident
Weight category MTOM: :	<2250 kg
Type of operation :	other
Plane / SFM :	Balloons and dirigibles
Type of plane / SFM :	BB 37 N
Health effects of event :	Without injury
PDF document :

Description:

AACU 2011 9 EN

The hot air balloon was scheduled for a flight on Friday 22 April 2011, from the South of Brugge, in Oostkamp. After flight preparation, the balloon took off, around 17:13 UTC with 6 persons on board; 4 passengers, the pilot and a flight attendant. The first part of the flight was uneventful. The balloon initially flew North, then in a North – Westerly direction, at a speed of 9 km/h. Around 18:00, the wind direction and speed changed suddenly. The balloon went West, and reached a maximum speed of 51 – 57 km/h. The pilot decided to land, as soon as possible, and eventually selected a suitable field, between the highway and the water waterway Brugge – Oostende. The balloon came in for landing, at a speed of 37 – 43 km/h. Upon touchdown, the basket rotated violently 180°. The pilot lost his balance and his head was violently hurt, making him unconscious. One passenger fell out of the basket mount, seriously injured.

The balloon went up somewhat, due to the loss of weight, and flew a further 200m, before touching down again.A passenger and the flight attendant were ejected from the basket and the basket was further being dragged on the ground towards the tree line bordering the Brugge- Oostende waterway. The basket came to a stop in a ditch alongside the waterway, where the two remaining passengers climbed out. The balloon ground crew member and a passerby went to the rescue of the pilot who remained still attached in the basket. The pilot was found dead.