Cameron A-140 accident near Temecula, California, November 26, 1983
On November 26, 1983 at about 4:35 pm local time, a Cameron A-140 (balloon), registered N741CB, was involved in an accident near Temecula, California. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 4 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 26, 1983 · about 4:35 pm local time
- Place
- Temecula, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 4 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cameron A-140
- Registration
- N741CB · no longer on the register · serial 862
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE HAD RECEIVED WX INFO FROM THE TV, BUT NO WX REPORT WAS OBTAINED FROM FLT SERVICE. WHEN HE TOOK OFF ON A SIGHT-SEEING FLT AT 0745 PST, THE WIND WAS CALM. AFTER TAKEOFF, HE FLEW AT LOWER ALTITUDES, THEN CLIMBED & FLEW BETWEEN 1200 & 2200 FT AGL. THE PLT ESTIMATED THAT AT THE LOWER ALTITUDES, THE WIND WAS BLOWING AT 3 TO 4 KTS, AND AT THE HIGHER ALTITUDES, IT INCREASED TO 7 TO 9 KTS. HOWEVER, WHEN HE ELECTED TO LAND AT 0835 PST, THE PLT ESTIMATED THE SURFACE WIND WAS FROM THE NORTH AT 12 GUSTING 14 KTS. BEFORE LANDING, HE 'CONTOURED' THE SURFACE UNTIL REACHING A GRASSY MEADOW WITH A SLIGHT DOWNHILL SLOPE. REPORTEDLY, THE BALLOON SKIDDED DURING TOUCHDOWN, BECAME AIRBORNE ABOUT 10 FT AGL, THEN LANDED AGAIN. ONE PASSENGER RECEIVED A FRACTURED ANKLE DURING THE LANDING.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 350 hours in all; 115 in this make and model; 56 in the last 90 days; 338 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 115 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, October 25, 1983; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 800 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Unknown 07 (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 12 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from RIV, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.