THE DTSB
The DTSB determines the Probable Cause of this accident to be Pilot Error, in allowing a majority of the skydiver load (8 jumpers) to exit the balloon at the same time, thereby collapsing the envelope by rising too quickly and deforming the shape of the envelope. There was no evidence of illegal drugs in the autopsy report of the pilot.
NTSB
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot’s decision to open the rapid deflation valve during flight as a means of descending,
which resulted in the deflation of the envelope and hard impact with terrain.
THE DTSB
The DTSB recommends that all pilots of all balloon jump operations become aware of the hazards of non staged jump operations and limit load reduction in sequence.
NTSB
None issued. NTSB recommendations are rare and usually tied to high-profile accidents.
See the NTSB Recommendation Tracker →