On January 14, 2024; there was a hot air balloon crash Arizona in which four persons died including the pilot; Cornelius van der Walt.
The three victims were Chayton Wiescholek, 28, from Michigan ; or Kaitlynn “Katie” Bartrom, 28 from Indiana; or Atahan Kiliççote, 24 from California.
They were all described as cheerful people with the beaming ability to affect other people’s morale in a positive way.
Valerie Stutterheim, 23, of Scottsdale, Arizona, was the sole survivor of the crash but she was badly injured sustaining a traumatic brain injury and at least several bone fractures.
She is in the trauma hospital now and will need a long time to gain a stable health and need numerous surgeries and rehabilitation.
She has strength and her family has created a GoFundMe as the medical expenses pile up as she struggles to recover.
The Crash
Reports and videos from the hot air balloon crash Arizona on January 14, 2024, offer key details about the event.
Witnesses saw the balloon quickly fall with a deflated envelope, showing it lost its ability to fly. Several videos on mobile phones showed the envelope breaking apart as it crashed.
The basket landed straight, but the envelope was badly damaged, with signs of heat damage and frayed edges.
This damage was probably the hot air balloon crash Arizona in the air after the skydivers got out, resulting in the accident.
Preliminary Findings by NTSB
On January 14, 2024, a hot air balloon crash Arizona with 13 people inside. The report from the National Transportation Safety Board showed that the balloon failed just after eight skydivers got off at 10,000 feet.
Witnesses and videos showed the balloon falling with its envelope deflated and damaged.
The envelope had thermal damage, frayed material, and some panels were broken. The burner was sometimes working but its effectiveness was uncertain.
The wreckage has been secured for further examination as investigators continue to determine the exact cause of the crash.
Cornelius Van Der Walt
Cornelius van der Walt, a 37-year-old South African pilot, led a hot air balloon company in Eloy, Arizona, known for its safety.
He was experienced and safety-focused but details about his flying and qualifications are unclear.
Van der Walt was flying at the time of the crash, which was unusual because he usually only skydived.
A toxicology report showed high ketamine levels, suggesting he might not have been fit to fly.
Toxicology Report Insights
Cornelius van der Walt, the pilot of the hot air balloon crash Arizona had high levels of ketamine in his system, which are considered dangerous for driving.
This is because his blood had 60 times the safe limit in the UK, which made people worried about how safely he could fly the balloon.
It’s also strange because no one had given van der Walt ketamine before the crash, and the rescue workers didn’t use it on him either.
Ketamine is an anesthetic that can make people see things that aren’t real and make it hard to think clearly, which might have been a problem for him as a pilot.
But, it’s still unclear if ketamine caused the crash, as they’re still looking into what happened.
Victims of the Crash
32 year old pilot Zachary Scott Robertson died in a hot air balloon crash Arizona on 14th January 2024, four people died and one was critically injured.
The hot air balloon had 13 people on board and 8 of those being skydivers, fell after launching the skydivers at 10,000 feet. Witnesses saw the balloon crash into the desert at 7:30 AM.
After the operation, the NTSB said that the balloon had its envelope deflated with thermal damage that pointed towards a crash.
The pilot had raised levels of ketamine but it’s not definite of causal nature leading to the crash of the aircraft. Further, the investigation is still underway to ascertain what transpired as well.
The Balloon’s Envelope
After the hot air balloon crash Arizona experts looked closely at the balloon’s outer layer and found big problems that probably caused the crash.
They saw damage from too much heat near the opening, which could make the material weaker.
They also noticed the fabric was worn out at the edges and around the rim, which could have made the balloon less able to stay up in the air.
This shows that the way the balloon was checked before flying and its maintenance might not have been good enough.
hot air balloon crash Arizona shows the dangers of flying. It’s important to check safety rules, pilots’ health, and equipment to avoid more crashes.
The community’s support for the families shows how people can unite after a tragedy, underlining the need for safety in all activities.