Investigation Summary
The flight, operated by Early Morning Balloons under the name 'Mr Big', departed Carterton at 06:38 NZDT for a routine scenic tour. The aircraft was a hybrid, utilizing a Cameron A-210 envelope (serial 4300) manufactured in the United Kingdom in 1997 and imported to New Zealand in 2001. This envelope was paired with a basket and burner system manufactured by Thunder and Colt in 1989. As the balloon approached a landing site near Somerset Road, the pilot, Lance Hopping, performed a maneuver that brought the balloon to a low altitude over a silage paddock bounded by power lines. Despite the clear conditions, the balloon drifted into a 33kV conductor. The basket became caught, and as the pilot applied the burners to climb away, the tension of the wire held the balloon down. Approximately 20 seconds after contact, a phase-to-phase short circuit occurred. The resulting electrical arc punctured one of the four liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders, creating a blowtorch-like fire that quickly engulfed the basket and reached the envelope. Two passengers jumped from a height of approximately 20 meters in a desperate attempt to escape the flames. The heat eventually caused the conductor wire to snap, allowing the burning balloon to shoot upwards to nearly 490 feet before the envelope disintegrated, causing the wreckage to fall into a field.
Final Conclusions
The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) concluded that the accident was caused by the pilot's unsafe maneuver of flying below the level of power lines and his subsequent failure to use the rapid descent system once contact was imminent. Toxicology reports revealed the presence of THC in the pilot's system, indicating he was a long-term cannabis user. The commission found that cannabis impairment likely degraded the pilot's judgment and decision-making. In 2015, Coroner Peter Ryan reinforced these findings, describing the accident as 'entirely preventable' and noting that the pilot's chronic cannabis use likely affected his perception and thinking. Additionally, the investigation identified significant maintenance record-keeping errors and the use of outdated manuals by the maintenance provider, though these were not direct causes of the crash.
Video Analysis
The New Zealand Hot Air Balloon Disaster 2012 (Documentary) — A detailed documentary covering the Carterton hot air balloon crash, including the flight path, the collision with power lines, and the subsequent investigation into pilot impairment.
If playback is blocked, the owner has disabled embedding — use the link above.
Airframe & Maintenance
Crew Experience
Captain
Experienced commercial pilot and safety manager for local ballooning events. Medical certificate had expired six weeks prior to the accident.
Systems & Failure Modes
Rapid Deflation System
A mechanism (such as a 'smart vent' or parachute valve) designed to quickly release hot air from the envelope to effect a rapid descent. The pilot failed to deploy this system when collision with the wires became imminent.
LPG Fuel System
The balloon carried four liquefied petroleum gas cylinders to feed the burners. One cylinder was ruptured by electrical arcing, fueling the intense fire.
Interesting Facts
- 01The accident was New Zealand's deadliest aviation disaster since the 1979 Mount Erebus crash.
- 02Post-mortem toxicology found THC in the pilot's blood, suggesting cannabis use on the morning of the flight.
- 03The pilot's medical certificate had expired six weeks prior to the accident.
- 04The balloon was a Cameron A-210, serial number 4300, manufactured in the United Kingdom.
- 05Investigators found the maintenance provider was using an outdated 1992 version of the maintenance manual.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Drug and Alcohol Testing Legislation
The TAIC recommended that the New Zealand government introduce legislation for random drug and alcohol testing for all persons in safety-critical transport roles.
Urgent Maintenance Review
Following the discovery of record-keeping anomalies, the TAIC issued an urgent recommendation for the CAA to audit maintenance practices across the entire New Zealand hot air balloon fleet.