Cameron Balloons O-70 N5303Z
30 November 2002 · Montrose, Colorado, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 30 November 2002 at about 14:30 local time, a Cameron Balloons O-70 registered N5303Z was involved in an accident near Montrose, Colorado, United States. 3 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 14:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Montrose, Colorado, United States
- Nearest airport
- Montrose Regional (MTJ)
- Coordinates
- 38.5183, -107.8208
- Aircraft
- Cameron Balloons O-70
- Registration
- N5303Z
- Category
- Balloon
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Montrose → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Not recorded
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- DEN03LA019
People
2 people were seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
the unforecasted increase in wind velocity. A contributing factor was the fence that the basket struck, subsequently spilling the occupants onto the ground.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot said this was his second flight of the morning, and the wind was approximately 3 knots. He said that during the flight, the wind increased to approximately 10 knots. During a landing attempt in an open field, the pilot said the basket struck a fence, subsequently spilling the occupants onto the ground. The balloon flew for an additional 8 to 10 minutes before the balloon's basket caught on a second fence. The ground crew retrieved the balloon, which incurred no damage.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Jun 2002 | Beechcraft 58P | Grand Junction, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 9 Aug 2002 | Cessna 310N | Grand Junction, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 14 Jan 2002 | Piper PA-23-250 | Pagosa Springs, Colorado, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 4 Nov 2002 | Mooney M20E | Broomfield, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 11 Jan 2002 | McDonnell Douglas MD 902 | Aurora, Colorado, United States | MD Helicopters | No injuries | - |
| 13 Jan 2002 | Maule M-5-235C | Grand Junction, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |