# NTSB LAX97LA169: Cameron N-77, N16067, Temecula, CA, April 27, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 27, 1997, 08:15 local (15:15 UTC) - Place: Temecula, CA - Location: 33.4936° N, 117.1484° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Temecula, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4936&lon=-117.1484&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 14, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29780 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX97LA169 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29780/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA169 ## Probable cause The pilot's misjudgment of his speed and altitude, which led to a landing overshoot. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly - distance/speed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - Roll over, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - hidden obstruction(s) - Fire, landing - flare/touchdown - balloon equipment,burner system - other ## Analysis The pilot reported that after 45 minutes of flight he began looking for a place to land which was accessible by the ground crew. The balloon was drifting toward an area of hills and the pilot spotted a hill with a flat top, which had recently been graded off in preparation for construction. A road sufficient for recovery of the balloon ran up the spine of the connecting ridge line. The pilot then began a descent toward the landing spot, but overshot the hilltop and touched down on the far slope. The balloon gondola touched down on a large rock hidden in tall vegetation just as the pilot pulled the rip panel open to deflate the envelope and the balloon tipped over on its side. The pilot had left one pilot light on during the touchdown sequence and the pilot flame ignited a grass fire. The pilot, along with a nearby resident, attempted to extinguish the fire with fire extinguishers, but were unsuccessful and the balloon was consumed in the fire. Fire department vehicles monitoring the balloon competition reached the site in about an hour and extinguished the grass fire. ## Factual narrative On April 27, 1997, at 0815 Pacific daylight time, a Cameron N-77 balloon, N16067, tipped over during landing on a brush covered hillside near Temecula, California, and ignited a grass fire which consumed the balloon. The balloon was owned and operated by General Motors Corporation of Pontiac, Michigan, and was engaged in a race competition event. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The balloon and about an acre of grass was destroyed in the ground fire. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated near Temecula on the morning of the accident about 0700. FAA inspectors from the Riverside, California, Flight Standards District Office responded to the accident, examined the site, and interviewed the pilot. The pilot reported that after 45 minutes of flight he began looking for a place to land which was accessible by the ground crew. The pilot told the inspectors that the balloon was drifting toward an area of hills and he spotted a hill with a flat top, which had recently been graded off in preparation for construction. A road sufficient for recovery of the balloon ran up the spine of the connecting ridge line. The pilot then began a descent toward the landing spot, but overshot the hilltop and touched down on the far slope. The balloon gondola touched down on a large rock hidden in tall vegetation just as the pilot pulled the rip panel open to deflate the envelope and the balloon tipped over on its side. The pilot had left one pilot light on during the touchdown sequence, and the pilot flame ignited a grass fire. The pilot, along with a nearby resident, attempted to extinguish the fire with fire extinguishers, but were unsuccessful and the balloon was consumed in the fire. Fire department vehicles monitoring the balloon competition reached the site in about an hour and extinguished the grass fire. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N16067](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N16067-1998-11-13), registration cancelled 1998-11-13, S/N 5970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cameron N-77 - Registry model: [Cameron Balloons US N-77](https://openairdocs.org/model/cameron-balloons-us-n-77) (registry code 1880255) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 5970 - Airframe hours: 339 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Part 91 - Registered owner: General Motors Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 17, 1996, 47 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; commercial; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 1,439 total, 12 in this make and model, 1,439 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 3 knots - Visibility: 35 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: RIV, 22 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 19970427006579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970427006579A), Apr 27, 1997: Camron N77, Temecula Valley, CA, Destroyed. Basket tipped over landing on brushy hillside. Ignited brush consumed balloon. Overshot landing. Hit hidden rock. 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.