Hot-air balloon crash in Eloy, Ariz., kills 4, including skydiving pilot
A hot-air balloon crash in an Arizona city known as a skydiving haven killed four people and seriously injured another over the weekend.
The National Transportation Safety Board and local authorities are investigating the crash in Eloy, which is known as an international capital for air sports such as skydiving and ballooning. Investigators said eight skydivers were among the 13 people aboard the balloon that crashed.
The news rippled through the tightknit community. The Balloon Federation of America released a statement extending “our condolences to the family and friends of all involved in this accident.”
Eloy Mayor Micah Powell said officials believe there may have been an equipment issue before the gondola plummeted to the ground, adding that a witness described the balloon as being “straight up and down” before impact.
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“Something catastrophic occurred with the balloon causing it to crash,” said Eloy’s police chief, Byron Gwaltney.
Multiple people called 911 about 7:30 a.m. Sunday to say that a hot-air balloon had crashed in a rural desert area, Gwaltney said.
He said it isn’t clear where or when the hot-air balloon took off, but investigators have learned the aircraft left the ground with 13 people aboard — eight skydivers, four passengers and the pilot. The skydivers had successful landings before any issues with the hot-air balloon were evident, officials said. Then, after an unknown amount of time, the gondola with five people still aboard crashed.
Police identified the dead as Chayton Wiescholek, 28, of Union City, Mich.; Kaitlynn Bartrom, 28, of Andrews, Ind.; Atahan Kiliccote, 24, of Cupertino, Calif.; and the pilot, Cornelius van der Walt, 37, who is originally from South Africa but lived in Eloy. One person — Valerie Stutterheim, 23, of Scottsdale, Ariz. — remains in critical condition.
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Bartrom’s mother, Jennifer Hubartt, told Arizona TV station ABC15 that her daughter was a registered nurse who loved skydiving and adventure. She said her daughter was visiting Arizona with friends.
“We’re crying about her on and off and talking about her on and off still trying to make it real,” Hubartt told ABC15.
Powell said the city advertises itself as having the world’s largest drop zone for skydivers and has hosted international skydiving competitions. The city’s website even showcases a picture of skydivers spelling out “ELOY” in the air.
Gwaltney said businesses that offer skydiving and hot-air ballooning services are skilled. “These types of incidents are certainly the exception rather than the rule,” the police chief said.
The company operating the hot-air balloon was Droplyne Hot Air Balloon Rides based in Moab, Utah. No one at Droplyne was immediately available for comment Tuesday.
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The company’s website says van der Walt, the balloon’s pilot who died, began falling in love with parachuting and airplanes when he was 17. He later worked as a skydiving instructor to fund his ballooning adventures.
“Right at the time when I realized this hobby is getting out of control, Red Bull tipped me over the edge of turning ballooning into a business by being Droplyne’s first official customer,” he said on the website. He formed the company in 2017 when Red Bull contracted them for a short film. They offer balloon rides for viewing and also as a literal jumping-off point for skydivers.
From October to April, per the website, van der Walt packed up their operation in Moab and went to Eloy, where he would take people up to 10,000 feet above the Casa Grande area with views that stretch 70 miles in every direction.
The website explains the company’s strict safety protocols before ending with a note: “We have a perfect safety record.”
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