# NTSB NYC93LA173: Cameron Bieu/V-65, N75192, Lewiston, NY, August 26, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 26, 1993, 08:20 local (12:20 UTC) - Place: Lewiston, NY - Coordinates: 43.169898, -79.039932 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1699&lon=-79.0399&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38646 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC93LA173 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38646/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC93LA173 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance, which resulted in an inflight collision with a light pole. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, approach - clearance - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Hard landing, landing - terrain condition - grass ## Analysis THE PILOT AND PASSENGER DEPARTED IN A HOT AIR BALLOON, FROM CANADA, TO CROSS THE NIAGARA FALLS GORGE INTO THE UNITED STATES (U.S.). AFTER CROSSING INTO U.S. AIRSPACE, THE PILOTED STATED THAT THE WINDS BECAME VARIABLE IN DIRECTION AND SPEED. THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED DIFFICULTY IN MANEUVERING AWAY FROM THE GORGE. SEVERAL LANDINGS WERE ABORTED. DURING THE LAST GO AROUND, WHEN THE BALLOON BURNER WAS TURNED ON TO ESTABLISH A CLIMB, THE BALLOON CONTINUED TO DESCEND. DURING THE DESCENT THE BALLOON STRUCK AND BROKE A LAMP STANCHION. AS THE LAMP POST FELL IT BROKE THE PASSENGER'S ARM. THE BALLOON LANDED HARD, UNDAMAGED. ## Factual narrative On Thursday, August 26, 1993, at 0820 eastern daylight time, a Cameron Hot Air Balloon, N75192, owned and piloted by Ruth Salzberg, struck a lamp post and landed hard during a landing to a field near Lewiston, New York. The balloon was not damaged. The pilot was not injured, but the sole passenger received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan had not been filed for the flight operating under 14 CFR 91. In the pilot/operator report, the pilot stated that this was a planned flight over the Niagara Falls Gorge, from Canada to New York State. Weather was checked on three different occasions and the balloon departed at 0720. At 0750, after crossing into United States Airspace, the pilot stated that the winds became "squirrely and variable in direction and speed." In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2 the pilot stated: "...Difficult to get a direction away from gorge or to set up a landing approach. Aborted several landings due to...wind changes in direction and speed...Descended to investigate possible landing site, but decided it was too close to road...turned on burner to climb...Balloon did not respond. Instead a descent was initiated...continued to burn until it became obvious turn around would not come in time to avoid hitting lamp stanchion...balloon hit lamp stanchion...which did break off at base. In falling, the lamp post broke the passengers arm when he stood up prematurely. Balloon landed hard, but was undamaged...." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N75192](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N75192), registered now, S/N 5841, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cameron BIEU/V-65 - Registry model: [Cameron Balloons US V-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/cameron-balloons-us-v-65) (registry code 1880221) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 5841 - Airframe hours: 16 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ruth F. Salzberg - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 20, 1993, 15 hours before - Departed: NONE, NIAGRA FALLS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; commercial; flight hours: 440 total, 256 in this make and model, 400 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 4 knots - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: IAG, 7 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 19930826031369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930826031369A), Aug 26, 1993: Camron V65, Lewiston, NY, Substantial damage. Crossing niagra falls gorge winds became variable difficult leaving area. Uncontrolled descent. Hit street lights. 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.