Plane Crash List

Cameron Balloons O-90 N4066X

30 October 2005 · Bethlehem Twp., New Jersey, United States · Serious injuries

Summary

On 30 October 2005 at about 21:00 local time, a Cameron Balloons O-90 registered N4066X, operated by John A.Long, was involved in an accident near Bethlehem Twp., New Jersey, United States. 2 people were on board. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 21:00
Classification
Accident
Location
Bethlehem Twp., New Jersey, United States
Coordinates
40.2983, -74.5208
Aircraft
Cameron Balloons O-90
Registration
N4066X
Category
Balloon
Operator
John A.Long
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Bethlehem → Unknown
Aircraft damage
Not recorded
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
NYC06CA022

People

Injuries not recorded.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
2 0 0 0 1

Probable cause

The ground crewmember's inadvertent entanglement in the balloon's vent lines.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

A ground crewmember was assisting in the inflation and launch of a hot air balloon. Just prior to lift-off, as the pilot was adding heat for the climb out, the crewmember became entangled in the two vent lines that were draped outside of the balloon's basket. When the balloon lifted off, the crewmember was lifted approximately 75 feet above ground level. The pilot attempted to lose altitude by venting hot air from the envelope, but was unable, as both vent lines were wrapped about the crewmember's right ankle. The pilot then attempted to get the crewmember closer to the ground by aiming at a small tree. The balloon struck the tree at a downward angle, the crewman became untangled, fell through a barn roof, and sustained serious injuries.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
13 Sep 2005 Sikorsky S-76B
N14CS
Linden, New Jersey, United States ExcelAire Service Inc. Serious injuries -
4 Jul 2005 Meyer ATLANTIS
N98Y
Pittstown, New Jersey, United States - Serious injuries -
31 May 2005 Swearingen SA-226T
N22DW
Teterboro, New Jersey, United States Dominick Alfieri Serious injuries -
7 Aug 2005 Cirrus SR20
N915DJ
Farmingdale, New Jersey, United States Cerified Flyers II No injuries -
7 Feb 2005 Air Creation CLIPPER 912
UNREG
Woodbine, New Jersey, United States - Fatal 2
5 Jul 2005 Grumman American AA-5
N6061L
Branchville, New Jersey, United States Peter John Horvat Serious injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States