Cameron CAN-56 accident near West Chicago, IL
On June 25, 1994, a Cameron CAN-56 (balloon) was involved in an accident near West Chicago, IL. 3 people were seriously injured. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- June 25, 1994
- Place
- West Chicago, IL
- Aircraft
- Cameron CAN-56 · Balloon
- Injuries
- 0 fatal, 3 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 41.880°N, 88.219°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001206X01487
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 25, 1994, at 0715 central daylight time, a Cameron Balloons CAN-56 free balloon, N20367, owned and operated by Mr. David L. James of Larwill, Indiana, contacted powerlines during approach to an open field in West Chicago, Illinois. The balloon caught fire and was destroyed. The commercial certificated free balloon pilot and two passengers sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time of the accident. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 as part of the Geneva, Illinois, Swedish Day Balloon Festival. The flight departed from an open field in Geneva, Illinois, at 0602 along with 20 other free balloons. The event was a "Hare and Hound" race, and the lead balloon had dropped a target at a golf course, 1/2 mile south of the Dupage Airport. The accident balloon passed north of this site, and the pilot remarked to his passengers that "we aren't in the competition." They then continued beyond the airport after crossing one of the runways south of the Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT), and began to look for a landing site. After passing Dupage Airport, the pilot disconnected the main fuel line to one burner from the #1 tank (right front position) and reconnected it to the #3 tank (right aft position). The pilot stated he made this tank change when the tank gauge indicated 10% fuel. He stated that he left reserve fuel in the tank to ensure he would have some available if he needed it later. After this tank switch, all occupants described 1 more burn of the blast valves to initiate an ascent. No line changes were made
Probable cause
the pilots failure to maintain vertical clearance above powerlines which bordered the field in which he intended to land. A factor associated with the accident were the powerlines.
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Browse: Illinois · Cameron aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
