WPR24LA142

The flight was reported to be a celebration of life sunset flight with one passenger. Shortly after takeoff, about 1,300 ft mean sea level, the passenger asked the pilot for privacy for ceremonial reasons, and the pilot turned his back. About 20 to 30 seconds later, the pilot felt a shift in the basket and realized that the passenger had jumped from the balloon. The pilot stated he observed the passenger descending toward the ground. A postmortem report issued by the medical examiner listed the passenger’s cause of death as multiple blunt force injuries, and the manner of death as suspected suicide.

On May 3, 2024, about 1830 Pacific daylight time, an Ultramagic SA Z-90 balloon, N290UM, was involved in an accident near Del Mar, California. The pilot was not injured; the passenger was fatally injured. The balloon was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 sightseeing flight. In a written statement, the pilot reported that he launched the balloon with the sole passenger at 1815 for a proposed sunset “celebration of life” flight. At about 1,300 ft mean sea level, the passenger asked for privacy for ceremonial reasons, and the pilot turned his back. About 20 to 30 seconds later, the pilot felt a shift in the basket and realized that the passenger had jumped from the balloon. The pilot stated that he observed the passenger descending toward the ground but did not see the impact. He radioed his ground crew and requested that they call 911, and about 30 minutes later, he landed the balloon and was met by police officers. He provided a statement and returned with them to the balloon later that evening. A postmortem exam of the passenger was conducted by the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office. They reported that the passenger’s cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries, and the manner of death was suspected suicide.