# NTSB WPR26LA287: Cameron Balloons A-315, N315U, Menifee, CA, August 2, 2026

- Type: NTSB occurrence investigation
- Classification: Occurrence · Fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: August 2, 2026, 07:10 local (14:10 UTC)
- Place: Menifee, CA · southeast corner of Malone Avenue and Watson Road
- Coordinates: 33.749903, -117.14046
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7499&lon=-117.1405&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/800) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Other: Security/criminal event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/350)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 2 uninjured
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 203510
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA287
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203510/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA287

## Preliminary report

On August 2, 2026, about 0710 Pacific daylight time, a Cameron Balloons A-315, N315U, was not damaged when it was involved in an accident near Menifee, California. The pilot and one passenger were not injured, and one passenger was fatally injured. The balloon was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 skydiving balloon flight. In a phone conversation, the pilot stated that after all the skydivers had exited the balloon and were safely on the ground, the balloon was descending. The pilot stated that it is their standard practice to open a bottle of champagne for the passengers who remained in the basket. He asked one passenger if he wanted champagne, which the pilot said he "just kind of grunted something" without really responding. While at an altitude of about 4,500 ft mean sea level, the pilot reached into a bag to retrieve drinks for the passengers and felt a very slight movement which he initially believed was one of the passengers had simply shifted position or turned around. However, when he looked up, he noticed that one passenger had jumped out and was no longer in the basket. The pilot added that there was no sound, verbal statement, or warning that the passenger was going to jump out the basket in flight. The pilot radioed his ground crew and requested that they call 911. Subsequently, the pilot landed uneventfully.

## Sequence of events

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

- [Other: Security/criminal event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/350) (defining event); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons A-315, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/350/sequence.md?model=1880214), [All aircraft, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/350/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N315U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N315U), registered now, S/N 6557, built 2009 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CAMERON BALLOONS A-315
- Registry model: [Cameron Balloons A-315](https://openairdocs.org/model/cameron-balloons-a-315) (registry code 1880214) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: 6557
- Year built: 2009
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Skydiving, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon
- Departed: Menifee, CA
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: None

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observed at: KHMT, 6 nm away
- METAR: METAR KHMT 021355Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 21/14 A2994 RMK AO2

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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