Hot air balloon crash on Jan. 14 in Eloy, Ariz.Photo:azfamily/YouTube
azfamily/YouTube
Cornelius Van Der Walt, 37, was piloting the Kubicek BB85Z balloon that was carrying 13 people, including eight skydivers who planned to jump from the aircraft, when it crashed on Jan. 14 in the desert near Eloy, Ariz., the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said in apreliminary reportreleased later that month.
Van Der Walt — who is originally from Namibia — died in the crash along with Chayton Wiescholek, 28, of Union City, Mich.; Kaitlynn Bartrom, 28, of Andrews, Ind.; Atahan Kiliccote, 24, of Cupertino, Calif.,PEOPLE previously reported, citing police. Additionally, a 23-year-old woman was critically injured.
Katie Bartrom, 28, of Fort Wayne, Ind., was one of four people who died in the Jan. 14 hot air balloon crash in Eloy, Ariz.Facebook
“In overdose, ketamine produces effects such as hallucinations, delirium, irrational behavior and vision and GI disturbances, progressing to cardiovascular and respiratory irregularities,” the toxicology report states, perThe Arizona Republic.
While the NTSB’s preliminary report released on Jan. 25 doesn’t share a cause for the crash, it states that the hot air balloon was “descending with a deflated envelope” before it hit the ground.
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“A review of multiple mobile phone videos revealed that the balloon was descending with a deflated envelope trailing from above,” the agency said. “Additionally, at times the burner flame under the envelope was observed.”
The NTSB further stated, “The accident site was flat desert terrain, sparsely populated with sage brush. The basket landed upright. The envelope remained attached to the basket and showed thermal damage near the mouth of the envelope. The sewn rim tape material near the top of the envelope was frayed, and several of the panels were damaged.”
According to the NTSB’sofficial website, investigations can take 12 to 24 months to complete.
source: people.com
