Cameron Balloons C-100 accident near Phoenix, Arizona, May 3, 2008
On May 3, 2008 at about 2:20 pm local time, a Cameron Balloons C-100, registered N6004K, suffered minor damage in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Phoenix, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 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 inadequate weather evaluation during the landing approach. Contributing to the accident were windshear and rocky terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 3, 2008 · about 2:20 pm local time
- Place
- Phoenix, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cameron Balloons C-100
- Registration
- N6004K · registry record · serial 5981
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the approach to landing, the balloon's descent rate was about 300 feet per minute. About 200 feet above the ground the balloon encountered a strong windshear, increasing its horizontal speed over the ground to about 30 knots. The balloon continued descending at about 300 feet per minute until touching down, at which time its basket tilted over and began to drag for about 200 yards, with the last 125 yards over rocky ground. One of the passengers sustained a serious injury due to his arm being stuck between the basket and the ground. The chase crew arrived at the scene about 40 seconds later. No anomalies were reported with the balloon prior to the flight.
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
- Windshear or thunderstorm during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Windshear › Not specified
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Weather planning › Pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › (general) › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 539 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 509 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: None
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 440 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: Phoenix AZ at 12:20 pm
- Destination: Phoenix AZ
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 9°F (-13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 am from DVT, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 | 1 |
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.