Pilot Debrief

CAMERON BALLOONS US Z-225 near Spring City, PA — 2014-06-15

Final reportERA14LA290
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Date
2014-06-15
Location
Spring City, PA, USA
Aircraft
CAMERON BALLOONS US Z-225
Registration
N65625
Category
Balloon
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The pilot's fall from the balloon’s basket during touchdown in a field for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence, which resulted in his fatal injury.

NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot was conducting a local balloon flight with 10 passengers on board. A ground crewmember reported that he talked with the pilot before takeoff, and he indicated that the pilot did not appear to be unhealthy and that he did not mention feeling ill or that he was having any health-related issues. The passengers reported that, after takeoff, the flight proceeded uneventfully, with the pilot talking to them during the entire flight. The pilot chose to perform a landing in a field and informed the passengers to brace for landing; several of the passengers noted that the wind speed was increasing. Several of the passengers also noted that the descent was steep and that the landing was "hard" or "really hard." The pilot then appeared to lose his balance, and he fell out of the basket and sustained fatal injuries. Although the pilot had several medical conditions and used several medications that could have affected his balance or reaction time and, thus, could have contributed to his fall from the basket, witnesses reported that the pilot appeared healthy and behaved normally before and during the flight. Further, even a fully alert, athletic person could have fallen in the manner described by the passengers. Based on the available evidence, it could not be determined if impairment from any of his medical conditions or the medications he was using to treat them caused the pilot to fall from the basket.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have acknowledged health issues before flight.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 9 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents9

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