Cameron Balloons Z-90 N1032B
25 August 2004 · Dover, Pennsylvania, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 25 August 2004 at about 23:35 local time, a Cameron Balloons Z-90 registered N1032B was involved in an accident near Dover, Pennsylvania, United States. 3 people were on board and one was seriously injured. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 23:35
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Dover, Pennsylvania, United States
- Coordinates
- 40.0025, -76.8503
- Aircraft
- Cameron Balloons Z-90
- Registration
- N1032B
- Category
- Balloon
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Other Work Use
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- York → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Not recorded
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- IAD04CA045
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to arrest an excessive descent rate prior to ground contact, which resulted in a hard landing. A factor was the relatively high winds (for balloon flight.)
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot briefed both passengers for the commercial balloon flight prior to takeoff, and specifically briefed them on landing procedures, which included bending their knees, facing the direction of travel, holding on, and remaining standing. About the time the balloon was launched, the wind speed was 8 miles per hour (mph). About 30 minutes into the flight, the winds had increased to 16 mph. The pilot advised his passengers and the ground crew that they would be landing as soon as possible. The pilot lowered the drop line to the ground crew and they subsequently slowed the balloon from 12 mph to 8 mph. He then repeated the landing instructions to the passengers, and indicated that they should brace themselves for a very hard landing. The pilot pulled the vent line to release some of the heat from the envelope, and ensure the balloon did not bounce. The basket "hit the ground" and tipped over. One of the passengers incurred a back injury during the landing. The pilot did not claim that the passenger failed to follow his landing instructions.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Cameron Balloons Z-90 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Dec 2001 | Cameron Balloons Z-90 | Mcintosh, New Mexico, United States | Michael P. Collins | Serious injuries | - |
| 7 Jun 2012 | Cameron Balloons Z-90 | Sellersburg, Indiana, United States | Dallas I. Beall III | Serious injuries | - |
| 20 Mar 2021 | Cameron Balloons Z-90 | Celina, Texas, United States | RET Richard V | No injuries | - |
| 2 Jun 2022 | Cameron Balloons Z-90 | Burlington, Wisconsin, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Mar 2004 | Cessna 172P | Zelienople, Pennsylvania, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 28 Mar 2004 | Cessna 182T | Perkasie, Pennsylvania, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 22 May 2004 | Masak SCIMITAR | Alexandria, Pennsylvania, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 8 Aug 2004 | Cessna 172P | Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, United States | Century Flight Academy | No injuries | - |
| 23 Oct 2004 | Piper PA-28-140 | Lehighton, Pennsylvania, United States | Ace Pilot Training | No injuries | - |
| 3 Aug 2004 | Piper PA-24-180 | Phillipsburg, Pennsylvania, United States | - | No injuries | - |