Cameron Balloons US Z-225 accident near Chester Springs, Pennsylvania, April 21, 2013
On April 21, 2013 at about 11:35 am local time, a 2011 Cameron Balloons US Z-225, registered N65625, suffered minor damage in an accident during landing near Chester Springs, Pennsylvania. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured and 7 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to extinguish the burner pilot lights prior to a hard landing in windy conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 21, 2013 · about 11:35 am local time · cases in 2013
- Place
- Chester Springs, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured and 7 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cameron Balloons US Z-225, built 2011
- Registration
- N65625 · registry record · serial 6630
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During an approximate 1-hour balloon flight, the wind increased as the pilot was preparing to land. The pilot preferred to land on asphalt, but missed several landing spots due to the wind and elected to land on the mowed lawn of a residence. Just prior to landing, the pilot instructed the passengers how to brace themselves and added that the landing was going to be rough due to the wind. The balloon subsequently contacted trees just prior to touchdown. As the balloon touched down on the lawn, the gondola tipped on its side and passengers were jostled about and out of the gondola. During which, one of the passengers or the pilot likely inadvertently contacted the burner switch, which caused a propane flash and burned three of the ten passengers. When asked about why the pilot flames on the burners were still on during the landing, the pilot replied that the pilot flame is usually extinguished on smaller balloons prior to landing. Larger balloons, such as the accident balloon, have three burners and it takes some time to extinguish the pilot flames as it is not just a matter of moving a switch. Review of a flight manual for the accident balloon make and model revealed that the normal procedures for approaching to land, instructed the pilot to shut off the pilot light connection just before touchdown in high winds. Review of the flight manual emergency procedures for preparation for a hard landing, instructed the pilot to extinguish the pilot flames by closing the pilot light valves at the burners or by disconnecting the vapor hose quick disconnects at the tanks.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach
- Hard landing during landing defining event
- Miscellaneous/other during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of policy/procedure › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › High wind › Effect on operation
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › (general) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 2,978 hours in all; 450 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: March 17, 2013
- Medical certificate: None
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 141 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 22, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 2,795 lb
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: fixed
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: U.S. Hot Air Balloon Team
The flight
- Departed from: N47 Pottstown PA at 10:35 am
- Destination: N47 Pottstown PA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 9 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.55 inHg
- Observation at 11:54 am from PTW, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 | 6 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
10 documents, released by the NTSB on September 25, 2013. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Interview Summary | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Passenger List | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Passenger Statements | PDF, 16 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Plot of Accident Flight (Derived from Passenger Schulz's Camera) | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Plot of Accident Site | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Excerpts from Balloon Flight Manual | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Weather Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Photograph # 1: Accident Site (Photo Courtesy of Passenger Hill) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 10 | Photograph # 2: Balloon Damage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | 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.
Other NTSB records under N65625 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N65625 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Pottstown Municipal · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Pennsylvania 1,836 since 1982 · 234 in the last ten years
- Pennsylvania 6,194 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N65625 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA13LA212.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.