Cameron Balloons A-315 accident near Vacaville, California, November 13, 2011
On November 13, 2011 at about 5:10 pm local time, a Cameron Balloons A-315, registered N65400, was involved in an accident during landing near Vacaville, California. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 14 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The balloon’s encounter with increased wind, which resulted in a hard landing and passenger injury.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 13, 2011 · about 5:10 pm local time
- Place
- Vacaville, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 14 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cameron Balloons A-315 · all A-315s on the register
- Registration
- N65400 · registry record · serial 6596
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and passengers were on a local area flight in a hot air balloon. Prior to departure, the pilot conducted a preflight orientation for the passengers, which included proper positioning in the basket during landing. According to the pilot, upon departure, the wind was from the south at 5 knots; however, when he returned for a landing, the wind had increased to 10 knots. The balloon's descent rate near the surface was 30 feet per minute. Upon contact with the ground, the balloon basket slid about 40 to 50 feet before impacting a 6- to 8-inch curb. The basket stopped abruptly and fell over. One of the passengers sustained a broken leg during the landing. The pilot's ground crew reported that the passenger was not against the downwind basket side at the time of ground contact. The pilot indicated that prior to departure, he will now require passengers to demonstrate their landing positioning so that he can ensure their understanding.
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
- Hard landing during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › High wind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 5,790 hours in all; 275 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 5,760 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 17, 2011
- Medical certificate: None
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 237 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 13, 2011; 40 hours since
- Seats: 12
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Napa Valley Balloons INC
The flight
- Departed from: Winters CA at 4:20 pm
- Destination: Vacaville CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from VCB, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 13 |
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.