Cameron A-140 accident near Phoenix, Arizona, February 6, 1989
On February 6, 1989 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Cameron A-140 (balloon), registered N2912R, suffered minor damage in an accident near Phoenix, Arizona. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 5 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT DISPLAYED POOR PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND PREPARATION BY NOT PROPERLY EVALUATING THE WEATHER CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 6, 1989 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Phoenix, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 5 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cameron A-140
- Registration
- N2912R · no longer on the register · serial 5023
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT, AFTER TAKEOFF, THE WINDS INCREASED. THE PILOT PREPARED FOR A HIGH WIND LANDING AND BRIEFED THE PASSENGERS. THE BASKET IMPACTED THE GROUND, TIPPED AND WAS DRAGGED FOR SEVERAL FEET BEFORE COMING TO REST. ONE PASSENGER SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES AS A RESULT OF THE HARD LANDING. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE WINDS WERE STRONG PRIOR TO TAKEOFF.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 234 hours in all; 74 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 209 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 448 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 25, 1988; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Unknown UNKNOWN (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Phoenix AZ at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 10 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 45 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:45 pm from DVT, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 4 |
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.