# NTSB LAX05LA094: Cameron Balloons A-250, N3037V, Cave Creek, AZ, February 9, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 9, 2005, 16:45 local (23:45 UTC) - Place: Cave Creek, AZ - Coordinates: 33.283332, -111.75 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2833&lon=-111.7500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 31, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administation - NTSB case key (mKey): 61031 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX05LA094 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61031/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05LA094 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate handling of the balloon during boarding resulting in a passenger falling and sustaining a serious injury. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, standing - aircraft handling - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis A passenger fell while boarding the balloon, and broke her collarbone. Prior to the envelope's hot air inflation, the pilot had two passengers preboard the balloon due to one of the female passenger's physical limitations and speed of the surface wind. He estimated that the surface wind was 4-5 mph. As he started hot inflation of the balloon, the envelope started to stand upright. At that time, he instructed the third passenger to board. As she climbed into the basket, the side of the basket that she was on lifted slightly causing her to lose her balance and she fell into the basket. A medical examination revealed that she had a broken collarbone. The pilot stated that the balloon and heater had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. ## Factual narrative On February 9, 2005, about 1645 mountain standard time, a passenger fell and fractured her collarbone while boarding a Cameron Balloon A-250, N3037V, near Cave Creek Arizona. Hot Air Expeditions was operating the balloon under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The commercial pilot and two passengers were not injured; one passenger sustained serious injuries. The balloon was not damaged. The local sightseeing flight was boarding prior to departure, and was to land elsewhere in Cave Creek. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan had not been filed. The pilot submitted a Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2). He stated that, prior to the envelope's hot air inflation, he had two of the passengers preboard the balloon due to one of the female passenger's physical limitations and speed of the surface wind. He stated that the estimated surface wind was 4-5 mph. As he started hot air inflation of the balloon, the envelope started to stand upright. At that time, he instructed the third passenger to board. As she started to climb up using the footholds, the side of the basket that she was on lifted off the ground causing her to lose her balance and fall to the floor of the basket. A medical examination revealed that she had a broken collarbone. The pilot stated that the balloon and heater had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3037V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3037V-2015-10-08), registration cancelled 2015-10-08, S/N 6052, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cameron Balloons A-250 - Registry model: [Cameron Balloons US A-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/cameron-balloons-us-a-250) (registry code 1880119) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 6052 - Airframe hours: 387.2 - Damage: No damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: Hot Air Expeditions - Registered owner: MARS Leasing - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 1, 2005, 10.5 hours before - Departed: Cave Creek, AZ - Airport: DVT, Deer Valley Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; commercial ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: DVT, 3 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20050209002209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050209002209A), Feb 9, 2005: Camron A250, Cave Creek, AZ. (-23) The pilot stated he boarded two passengers and told the other passengers to wait. He began inflating the balloon, the instructed the waiting passengers… ## Other investigations on N3037V (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 LAX99LA189](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA189), May 22, 1999: Cameron A-250 (N3037V), Windsor, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot did not obtain the most current weather briefing available, which forecast high winds about his actual landing time. The balloon encountered high winds and collided with an embankment in a… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.