# NTSB WPR25LA023: Cameron Balloons US A-275, N275AZ, Wittmann, AZ, October 17, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: October 17, 2024, 07:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Wittmann, AZ · rural residential - open desert
- Coordinates: 33.717455, -112.48667 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7175&lon=-112.4867&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 9 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 195361
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA023
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195361/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195361
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA023

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a power line during an approach.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons US A-275, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1880445), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons US A-275, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=1880445), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot; cases with it: [Cameron Balloons US A-275, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=1880445), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons US A-275, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=1880445), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, during an approach to his landing area, he observed a power line in his flight path. He attempted to stop the balloon’s descent, but the basket still collided with the power line. The balloon sustained substantial damage to a suspension cable that severed from the collision. The pilot reported that that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N275AZ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N275AZ), registered now, S/N 6926, built 2021 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CAMERON BALLOONS US A-275
- Registry model: [Cameron Balloons US A-275](https://openairdocs.org/model/cameron-balloons-us-a-275) (registry code 1880445) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: 6926
- Year built: 2021
- Airframe hours: 513.5
- Engines: NA none
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Rainbow Ryders Inc
- Registered owner: Rainbow Ryders Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 16, 2024
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: NA
- Equipment: Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; commercial; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 6, 2024; seat: none; restraint: none; flight hours: 5,020 total, 0 in this make and model, 49,840 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 29.78 inHg
- Observed at: KGEU, 19 nm away
- METAR: KGEU 171447Z VRB03KT 10SM FEW150 21/07 A2978

## 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 20241017014989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241017014989A), Oct 17, 2024: Cameron Balloons US A-275, Whittman, AZ, Substantial damage. On October 17, 2024, around 0730 MST, Cameron ballon A-275, was making an approach to landing. The ballon was descending towards the surface, heading from the…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 8, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195361. 5.2 MB in all.

- Operator report (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17888777&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Operator%20report%206120-Rel.pdf
- Pilot report (item 2, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17889067&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20report%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 211 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17889314&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo-Rel.pdf

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.

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