# Accident 20020126000449A: Camron N145, Lasvegas, NV, January 26, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 26, 2002, 08:15 local time
- Place: Lasvegas, NV
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.3156° N, 115.3731° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3156&lon=-115.3731&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8004J, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8004J-2022-02-05) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cameron Balloons US N-145 (registry code 1880230, https://openairdocs.org/model/cameron-balloons-us-n-145) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CAMRON N145
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX02FA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02FA069) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020126000449A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) ON JANUARY 26, 2002, ABOUT 0815 HOURS MST, A CAMERON BALLOONS US, MODEL N-145, N8004J MADE A HARD LANDING IN ROUGH TERRAIN ABOUT 13 NAUTICAL MILES NORTHWEST OF LAS VEGAS, NEVADA. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT APPROXIMATELY 0715 FROM NORTHWEST LAS VEGAS. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED. SIXPASSENGERS WERE ON BOARD, THREE WERE INJURED SERIOUSLY AND THREE HAD MINOR INJURIES. THE GONDOLA HAD SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE BALLOON WAS OPERATED BY THE PILOT WHO DID BUSINESS AS ULTIMATE BALLOON ADVENTURES. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE PASSENGERS WERE FARE PAYING AND THE FLIGHT WAS PERFORMED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91. THE PILOT DID RECEIVE A WEATHER BRIEFING FROM THE TOWER AT NORTH LAS VEGAS AIRPORT AT LIFTOFF. HE LAUNCHED A PIBAL FROM THE LIFTOFF SITE THAT INDICATED THE LOW ALTITUDE SURFACE WIND WAS CALM. THE PILOT DID NOT RECEIVE A WEATHER BRIEFING FROM THE RENO FSS NOR A DUATS VENDOR ON THE EVENING OF JANUARY 25 NOR THE MORNING OF JANUARY 26. INITIALLY THE BALLOON DRIFTED NORTHWEST AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED. WHEN THE WIND SPEED INCREASED THE PILOT NOTIFIED A GROUND CREW MEMBER THAT HE PLANNED ON LANDING SOON. THE BALLOON TOUCHED DOWN TWICE BUT THE PILOT CONTINUED FLYING. THE FLIGHT TERMINATED AFTER THE BALLOON TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 13 NAUTICAL MILES. WHILE LANDING THE BALLOON IMPACTED THE BLOCK WALL SURROUNDING A HOME AND THEN TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT 300 YARDS LATER IN A ROUGH RAVINE. THE PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER WERE EJECTED. THE REMAINING FIVE PASSENGERS STAYED IN THE GONDOLA AS IT SLID TO A STOP.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX02FA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02FA069), Jan 26, 2002: Cameron Balloons US N-145 (N8004J), North Las Vegas, NV, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's misjudged approach and inadequate obstacle clearance, which resulted in his failure to attain the proper touchdown point. Contributing factors were the high gusty wind condition, and the…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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