Balloon pilot’s competitiveness may have led to fatal crash, probe finds
Peter Gregory, 25, died when his balloon plummeted to the ground near the village of Ombersley, Worcestershire, during a competition.
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A leading hot air balloon pilot’s desire to “gain a competitive edge” may have contributed to the crash which killed him, an investigation has found.
Peter Gregory, 25, died when his balloon plummeted to the ground near the village of Ombersley, Worcestershire, during a competition on June 25 last year.
A report by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) found the crash happened when the balloon climbed rapidly before its envelope – the outer layer – collapsed as a parachute inside it stalled.
Investigators said the climb, the balloon’s design and the weather conditions all likely contributed to the crash.
