Cameron Balloons A-210 accident near Marana, AZ
On April 13, 2005, a Cameron Balloons A-210 (balloon) was involved in an accident near Marana, AZ. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- April 13, 2005
- Place
- Marana, AZ
- Aircraft
- Cameron Balloons A-210 · Balloon
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 3 serious, 7 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 32.333°N, 111.058°W
- NTSB ID
- 20050414X00458
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On April 13, 2005, about 0645 mountain standard time, a Cameron Balloons A-210, N210EW, collided with boulders located atop the foothills in Marana, Arizona. Thunderbird Adventures was operating the balloon under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The commercial pilot, a second crewmember, and five passengers sustained minor injuries; three passengers sustained serious injuries; one passenger was fatally injured. The balloon sustained substantial damage. The local area sightseeing flight departed Marana about 0615. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed. During a telephone conversation with a National Transportation Safety Board investigator, the pilot reported that after making a normal departure, he maneuvered the balloon in a level attitude toward a series of hills to the west. He had followed this flight path many times prior. As he approached the hills on a heading of 300 degrees, he noted that the balloon appeared to be encountering a downdraft. He manipulated all the burners to produce maximum lift in an effort to counteract the downward force, which he attributed to be a result of either a rotor wave or downdraft. The balloon's basket impacted a boulder on the peak of the hill and bounced upward. The balloon again collided with another boulder and subsequently became airborne, clearing the peak of the hill. After maneuvering the balloon over power lines, the pilot landed; the balloon incurred substantial damage to the basket. A Safety Board investigator interviewed the crewmember, a private pilot, who was ab
Probable cause
the failure of the flying pilot to attain a proper climb rate and maintain an adequate clearance from rising terrain. Also causal was the commercial pilot's inadequate supervision of the flight and his delayed remedial action.
More accidents in AZ
- De Havilland DHC-6-300, Sep 27, 1989
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Browse: Arizona
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
