A disconnected fuel line was among the causes of last year's deadly balloon crash in Surrey, B.C., last year, according to a report from the Transportation Safety Board.

The hot air balloon crashed down over the Hazelmere trailer park on August 24, 2007. Two passengers in the balloon died: Shannon Knackstedt, 49, and her daughter Gemma, 21, both of residents of Langley.

Several others were taken to hospital for burns and broken bones.

Troubling findings

The TSB report, released Tuesday, outlines many concerns about the upkeep and mechanics of the balloon.

Investigators found the balloon, operated by Fantasy Balloon Charters, had been modified to accept a fourth propane tank, and the line to that tank somehow came loose, causing a fire that engulfed the basket as 12 passengers and the pilot prepared for takeoff.

Investigators say the fuel tanks aboard the balloon were not outfitted with an emergency shut off valve and more than 65 per cent of the balloon fabric had been replaced over time.

With 12 people on board, the balloon was also carrying "substantially" too much weight.

The TSB also found passengers were not given proper safety information as to how to get out of the balloon in case of emergency.

Warning signs?

These and other contributing factors were safety issues the board felt might have been identified by periodic Transport Canada inspections but that did not happen.

"Although the operator was operating under a valid (Transport Canada certificate) stating that it was adequately equipped and able to conduct a safe balloon operation carrying fare-paying passengers, no inspection of the company was ever made to support this statement,'' said the report.

"The certificate has no expiry date and there are no audits of balloon operators. Had there been periodic inspections by (Transport Canada), the owner's modification to the balloon's configuration and variations from the manufacturer's Continued Airworthiness Instruction may have been raised as safety concerns.''

In response, Transport Canada says it will conduct a full risk-assessment to figure out what, if any, regulatory measures should be instituted to prevent an accident like this from happening again.

The board is also recommending all hot-air balloons be fitted with emergency shut off valves.

Pilot 'deeply regretful'

The pilot of the flight, Stephen Pennock, said the crash has had a deep impact on the lives of everyone involved, including his own.

"It is impossible to describe how much I regret this terrible incident," he said in a statement.

Pennock said he did all he could to help the board investigate the crash.

"To those impacted, I want you to know that the balloon was being operated within the standard practices of the ballooning industry at the time of the accident," he said.

Fantasy Balloon Charters is no longer operating.

Questions remain

Despite the one-year investigation, the TSB still doesn't know exactly how the fuel line became detached from the propane tank. The report suggests the extra wear of connecting and disconnecting the hose during every flight could have led to the hose pulling out of its end fitting.

With a report from The Canadian Press