Four people died while another was critically injured in a hot air balloon crash on a Sunday morning, January 14, 2023, in Eloy, Arizona.
The incident occurred at around 7:50 a.m. in a desert area east of Sunshine Boulevard and Hanna Road.
The balloon was carrying 13 adults, including eight skydivers, four passengers, and a pilot. The skydivers had successfully exited the balloon for their planned event before the catastrophic failure occurred.
One passenger was pronounced dead at the crash site, while three others later died at the hospital.
The passengers killed in the crash were Chayton Wiescholek, 28, of Union City, Michigan; Kaitlynn Bartom, 28, of Andrews, Indiana; and Atahan Kiliccote, 24, of Cupertino, California.
The pilot, 37-year-old Cornelius Van Der Walt, was also killed, according to police.
One passenger survived, 23-year-old Valerie Stutterheim, of Scottsdale, Arizona. She is in critical condition.
Eloy, a small town with a population of just over 15,000, is situated about 65 miles southeast of Phoenix and is well-known for its skydiving community, often dubbed “the skydiving capital of the world.”
The hot air balloon, a Cameron Balloons A160 aircraft as identified by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), encountered a critical failure with its envelope, resulting in a crash in the desert terrain. The envelope is the fabric that forms the actual balloon.
A witness said that when they saw the balloon, it was deflated and heading straight down toward the ground.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the NTSB are conducting a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the crash. The downed balloon will be taken to a secure facility for further analysis.
The Eloy Police Department, in an email, confirmed that all individuals on board were adults, but withheld further details pending the outcome of the investigation.
In a statement, they expressed their deep regret over the four fatalities and one critically injured person, thanking the community for their support and understanding during this tragic event.
The weather at the time of the accident was reported as clear and cold, with temperatures in the mid-30s.
The investigation into the crash’s cause is active, with the NTSB and FAA leading the efforts.
