Cameron A315 N69520
14 November 2016 · Winters, California, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 14 November 2016 at about 16:50 local time, a Cameron A315 registered N69520, operated by Napa Valley Balloons Inc., was involved in an accident near Winters, California, United States. 15 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 16:50
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Winters, California, United States
- Nearest airport
- Yolo County (DWA)
- Coordinates
- 38.5978, -121.8911
- Aircraft
- Cameron A315
- Registration
- N69520
- Category
- Balloon
- Year built
- 2014
- Engines
- 3
- Operator
- Napa Valley Balloons Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial Observation
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Davis/Woodland/Winters → Davis/Woodland/Winters
- Aircraft damage
- Not recorded
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- GAA17CA082
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 14 |
Probable cause
The passenger's improper egress from the balloon basket, which resulted in a serious injury.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot of a balloon reported that while aloft he observed the wind increase to about 10 miles per hour, so he briefed his passengers on how to brace for a "high wind landing" and possible basket tip-over. The pilot further reported that he descended to about 3 feet above ground, and once over the target landing area he "shut off [the] fuel tanks and burners then pulled the smart vent (rapid deflation valve)." Subsequently, on touch down the basket bounced once and skidded about 15 to 20 yards before stopping with the basket tipping over on its side. The pilot reported that he secured the basket and while the passengers were exiting the basket, his ground crew informed him that a passenger had injured her ankle. According to the pilot, the injured passenger did not speak English as her first language and he was unsure if she braced appropriately for the landing or if she sustained the serious injury while exiting the basket. The pilot reported that another passenger informed him that the passenger sustained the injury while she was exiting the basket. The pilot did not report any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Oct 2016 | Joe Salomone SUPER CUB SQ2 | Boca Reservoir, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 12 Dec 2016 | Cessna T210M | Mecca, California, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 25 Aug 2016 | Siai-Marchetti SF260 | Fullerton, California, United States | Air Combat, USA | Minor injuries | - |
| 15 Dec 2016 | Bombardier CL 600 2B19 | San Francisco, California, United States | Skywest Airlines Inc | Unknown | - |
| 24 Aug 2016 | Cessna 182 | Fallbrook, California, United States | Civil Air Patrol Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 8 Jul 2016 | Cessna 172 | San Diego, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |