Cameron A-210 accident near Cave Creek, AZ
On April 15, 1996, a Cameron A-210 (balloon) was involved in an accident near Cave Creek, AZ. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- April 15, 1996
- Place
- Cave Creek, AZ
- Aircraft
- Cameron A-210 · Balloon
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 4 serious, 3 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 33.881°N, 111.909°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X05596
Official records · LAX96FA169
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
History of Flight On April 15, 1996, at 0749 hours mountain standard time, a Cameron A-210 hot air balloon, nosed over and erupted into flames after being dragged 485.2 feet and becoming inverted while landing in an open field near Phoenix, Arizona. The pilot was completing a local area visual flight rules sight-seeing flight. The balloon, operated by Get Carried Away, Scottsdale, Arizona, was destroyed by the postimpact fire. The certificated commercial pilot and two passengers sustained minor injuries, one passenger sustained fatal injuries, and five passengers sustained serious injuries. One of the seriously injured passengers died on April 28, 1996. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated from an open field at Cave Creek, Arizona, at 0650. Some of the passengers in the accident balloon told Phoenix Police Department detectives that the they were participating in a General Motors, Chevrolet Division, top 100 dealers award winning trip promotion. The balloon ride was part of the promotional package. The passengers said they were bused from their hotel to the departure site and boarded the accident balloon. Other passengers boarded three other balloons. After departing on the flight they flew directly to the accident area. In preparation for landing, the pilot briefed the passengers that it was going to be a "breezy, rough landing" and they should crouch down and hold onto something and that the balloon might tip over. One passenger said that the pilot established two landing plans. The first plan was to have the passengers kneeling down as they l
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to follow the flight manual procedure by not turning off the burner's pilot shutoff valves. Factors relating to the accident were: the installation of improper (unapproved wooden) upright rods by company maintenance personnel, subsequent failure of the upright rods, and the manufacturer's unclear information concerning the replacement parts.
More accidents in AZ
- De Havilland DHC-6-300, Sep 27, 1989
- Cessna 402C, Jun 19, 1992
- Piper PA-31-350, Aug 17, 1983
- Piper PA-31-350, Feb 13, 1995
- Cessna 421C, Sep 2, 1995
Browse: Arizona · 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.
