Cameron Balloons US A-275 accident near Wittmann, Arizona, October 17, 2024
On October 17, 2024 at about 2:30 pm local time, a 2021 Cameron Balloons US A-275, registered N275AZ, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Wittmann, Arizona. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 9 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a power line during an approach.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 17, 2024 · about 2:30 pm local time · cases in 2024
- Place
- Wittmann, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 9 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cameron Balloons US A-275, built 2021 · all A-275s on the register
- Registration
- N275AZ · registry record · serial 6926
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, during an approach to his landing area, he observed a power line in his flight path. He attempted to stop the balloon’s descent, but the basket still collided with the power line. The balloon sustained substantial damage to a suspension cable that severed from the collision. The pilot reported that that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Collision during takeoff/land during approach defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Contributed to outcome
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 5,020 hours in all; 0 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 49,840 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 6, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: none
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: none
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: none
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: none
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: none
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: none
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: none
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: none
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: none
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 513.5 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 16, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 4,300 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Na (none); 0 hours total
- Operator: Rainbow Ryders INC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.78 inHg
- Observation at 7:47 am from KGEU, 19 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KGEU 171447Z VRB03KT 10SM FEW150 21/07 A2978
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 8 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on April 8, 2025. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Operator Report | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Report | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N275AZ on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cameron Balloons Us A-275 20 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Engine: Na · as the NTSB recorded it
- Accidents and incidents in Arizona 2,985 since 1982 · 468 in the last ten years
- Arizona 8,430 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR25LA023.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.