Cameron A 250 accident near Hartsel, Colorado, August 3, 2018
On August 3, 2018 at about 2:15 pm local time, a 2009 Cameron A 250 (balloon), registered N2025J, was involved in an accident during landing near Hartsel, Colorado. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured; 9 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The passengers’ fall from the basket after landing when the basket tipped over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 3, 2018 · about 2:15 pm local time
- Place
- Hartsel, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured; 9 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cameron A 250 No Series, built 2009
- Registration
- N2025J · registry record · serial 6550
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The balloon departed on a revenue sightseeing flight with two commercial pilots and nine passengers. Due to the moderate 7- to 8-mph wind, the pilots briefed the passengers to crouch down with their knees bent, hold on to two straps on the basket, face toward the direction of travel, and brace against the side wall for landing. The passengers understood that the basket was expected to tip over after landing. During the landing, the basket touched down in a flat field, bounced several times, and dragged on the ground about 40 to 50 ft. The basket came to a complete stop while upright. During the balloon deflation, the basket tipped over hard, and two passengers fell out of the upper back left compartment; one passenger landed on top of the other. The 65-year-old passenger was seriously injured, while the 73-year-old passenger died as a result of her injuries. Based on the circumstances and the two passengers' position in the upper compartment of the basket, it is likely that they were not actively hanging on to the basket when it tipped over. Although the balloon manual and the basket manual differ in their guidance on which way the passengers should face during landing, it is unlikely that the injured passengers facing a different direction would have prevented them from falling out of the basket.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Nose over/nose down during landing
- Cabin safety event during landing defining event
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › (general) › (general) › Passenger
- Environmental issues › Task environment › Physical workspace › Positioning/available space › Effect on personnel
- Organizational issues › Management › Policy/procedure › (general) › Operator
Co-pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 246 hours in all; 104 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 42 in the last 30 days; 2 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 20, 2017
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: none
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 1,745 hours in all; 510 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 85 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 14, 2018
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: none
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: none
- Injury: fatal
Passenger
- Seat: none
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 494.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 5,000 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Colorado Hot Air Balloon Rides
The flight
- Departed from: Hartsel CO
- Destination: Hartsel CO
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.56 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 | 7 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
10 documents, released by the NTSB on March 20, 2019. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement (PIC) | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Pilot's Statement (Co-pilot) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Witness Statements | PDF, 12 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Company Operations Manual | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Cameron Balloons Flight Manual Excerpts | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Aerostar Basket Flight Manual Excerpts | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Maintenance Records | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 9 | Photos | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 10 | Operator's Post Accident Safety Recommendations | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.