Cameron Balloons A-250 accident near New Holland, Pennsylvania, May 5, 2007
On May 5, 2007 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Cameron Balloons A-250, registered N5312X, suffered minor damage in an accident near New Holland, Pennsylvania. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries; 8 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Unfavorable winds and terrain during a precautionary landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 5, 2007 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- New Holland, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries; 8 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cameron Balloons A-250
- Registration
- N5312X · registry record · serial 6186
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During takeoff, the Cameron Balloons A-250 came into contact with a support vehicle. As the balloon ascended with its 12 occupants, the pilot observed a balloon, which previously departed, heading south. The pilot noticed that instead of going south, he was drifting northeast. He varied altitude but his direction did not change. Thirty minutes into the flight, ground speed was 16 mph, and he attempted to land several times. As the balloon approached a hilly area, the wind increased to 18 mph, and the pilot attempted to land in a field. The balloon struck a tree, which turned the rectangular basket forward. The basket struck the ground and a passenger was ejected; he struck other passengers, and ended up beneath the basket. Passengers were not given a safety briefing prior to the flight. Prior to landing, passengers were told to put their backs against the basket, but there was not enough room for all passengers to do so. The pilot stated that he received a weather briefing prior to the flight via television, radio, and Internet, but not from flight service.
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, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 1,970 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 4 in the last 30 days; 1,970 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 22, 2006
- Medical certificate: None
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 488 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 5,000 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: United States Hot Air Balloon Team
The flight
- Departed from: Strasburg PA at 10:00 pm
- Destination: Strasburg PA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 260° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from LNS, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 2 | 7 |
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.