# Accident 20140615008599A: Cameron Balloons US Z-225, Spring City, PA, June 15, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 15, 2014, 07:15 local time
- Place: Spring City, PA
- Damage: No damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.1639° N, 75.5394° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1639&lon=-75.5394&mi=10
- Aircraft: N65625, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N65625) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cameron Balloons US Z-225 (registry code 1880329, https://openairdocs.org/model/cameron-balloons-us-z-225) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CAMERON BALLOONS US Z-225
- Reported engine: NONE NONE
- People aboard: 11
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 553 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA14LA290](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14LA290) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140615008599A

## Narrative

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

NARRATIVE: BALLOON WAS MAKING A LANDING IN AN OPEN, NEWLY PLANTED CORN FIELD, CLEARED THE TREE LINE ON AN 8 MPH APPROACH TO THE EAST OF WALL STREET. UPON FIRST CONTACT WITH THE GROUND THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE ENVELOPE AIR EXIT FLAP BY PULLING DOWN ON THE FLAP ATTACHMENT CORD. PILOT WAS LEANING FORWARD, OVER THE EDGE OF THE GONDOLA, LOST HIS BALANCE AND FELL OUT OF THE GONDOLA, HEAD FIRST. THE GONDOLA CAME TO REST IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION APPROXIMATELY 96 FEET FROM ITS INITIAL LANDING TOUCH DOWN LOCATION. PASSENGERS EXITED THE GONDOLA AND RENDER FIRST AID/CPR TO THE PILOT AND CALLED 911. PILOT WAS TRANSPORTED TO PHOENIXVILLE HOSPITAL WHERE HE WAS PRONOUNCED DECEASED.

POSTMORTEM EXAMINATION REVEALED A BRUISE ON THE BACK OF THE HEAD, AND

FRACTURED CERVICAL VERTEBRAE (A BROKEN NECK).

^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS NOT WEARING A TETHERED RESTRAINING BELT/HARNESS.

NO PILOT TO BASKET RESTRAINING BELT/HARNESS WAS INSTALLED IN THIS GONDOLA.

^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ HAD TYPE1 DIABETES.

HIS LAST CLASS 3 FLIGHT PHYSICAL WAS 16 MARCH 2009.

HIS CLASS 3 FLIGHT PHYSICAL CERTIFICATE EXPIRED ON 31 MARCH 2010.

^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ MOST RECENT VISIT WITH HIS PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN, DOCTOR ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, MD OF PRESBYTERIAN MEDICAL GROUP ON MONTGOMERY AVENUE IN ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO WAS ON 2/5/2014.

^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ DID NOT HAVE IN HIS POSSESSION HIS FAA PILOT?S CERTIFICATE OR ANY FORM OF PHOTO IDENTIFICATION.

^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED TO THE PASSENGERS THAT HE WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE LOCAL POTTSTOWN, PA FLYING AREA.

## 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 ERA14LA290](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14LA290), Jun 15, 2014: Cameron Balloons US Z-225 (N65625), Spring City, PA, no damage, 1 fatal. 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.

## Other reports on N65625 (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20130421005859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130421005859A), Apr 21, 2013: Cameron Balloons US Z-225 (N65625), Vincetown, PA, Minor damage. Balloon approach to landing impacted the ground hard and tipped over on its side up to a 45 degree angle. Pilot and 10 passengers on board where tossed around…

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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