4 dead, 1 critical after hot air balloon crashed in Arizona
ELOY, Ariz. (KPHO/Gray News) - Four people are dead and one person is in critical condition after a tragic hot-air balloon crash in Eloy, Arizona.
The crash happened around 7:50 a.m. Sunday, according to the Eloy Police Department. It is being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board and FAA.
Police released the identities of the victims Monday:
- Chayton Wiescholek, 28, from Union City, Michigan. To learn more about him, click/tap here.
- Kaitlynn Bartrom, 28, from Andrews, Indiana
- Atahan Kiliccote, 24, from Cupertino, California
- Cornelius van der Walt, 37, from Eloy, Arizona (pilot)
The person who was injured has been identified as 23-year-old Valerie Stutterheim of Scottsdale, Arizona.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of those who have lost their lives in this tragic incident, and our thoughts are with Ms. Stutterheim as she receives medical care,” said police in a statement released Monday morning.
The balloon was operated by Eloy-based Droplyne Hot Air Balloon Rides. According to the company’s site, van der Walt was the founder. Droplyne provides general balloon rides as well as flights for skydivers.
The NTSB said in an update Monday the crash involved a Kubicek BB85Z hot air balloon, which hit the desert terrain after a problem with the aircraft’s envelope or balloon. Investigators originally said the balloon was a Cameron Balloons A160.
So far, federal investigators have not found any “mechanical anomalies” with the balloon. The NTSB added that investigators have collected maintenance records for the balloon and additional information on van der Walt’s flight experience.
A preliminary NTSB report is expected to be released in about one month.
The Eloy Police Department is also investigating the hot air balloon crash. They said the aircraft lifted off with eight skydivers and five people on board who were not skydiving. According to the manufacturer’s website, the aircraft involved is rated to carry a pilot and 12-16 passengers.
Police say all skydivers jumped from the balloon and completed their planned skydiving event before something went wrong.
“Shortly thereafter, something catastrophic occurred with the balloon, causing it to crash to the ground,” Eloy Police Chief Byron Gwaltney said.
Firefighters pulled the victims out of the crash, according to police. One person died at the scene, while four others were rushed to a hospital. Authorities say three people later died, and another is in critical condition.
“You go up on a Sunday morning just to feel the breeze, the coldness on your face, and expect to see your friends skydive out of a hot air balloon, which is not uncommon, and then we have a situation like this. So, that’s the sad part,” said Eloy Mayor Micah Powell.
Authorities do not know the intended flight plan of the hot air balloon or any information on wind conditions at the time the balloon was in the air.
Gwaltney says that the hot air balloon came from outside of Eloy, Arizona, with the skydivers’ intent to jump into the Eloy Municipal Airport, which is a large skydiving center.
Authorities are working with the NTSB to interview witnesses and investigate the crash.
“From our experience in interacting with our skydiving community, it’s a very safe and well-run operation. I think these types of incidents are certainly the exception, rather than the rule,” Gwaltney said.
He says the crash is “an absolute tragedy.”
“You don’t wish this upon anybody, you know, in a sport like this, in a community like this,” Powell said.
Bartrom’s mother, Jennifer Hubartt, said that her daughter recently became a registered nurse in Fort Wayne and loved cats, adventure, and traveling. Skydiving was one of her passions, and Hubartt says Bartrom came to Arizona this weekend to go skydiving with some of her friends.
Hubartt says her daughter did not jump and was a spectator who tragically died in the crash and passed away doing what she loved.
Bartrom leaves behind a twin sister, a younger brother and sister as well as her mother and stepfather.
“The city of Eloy is a close-knit community with a high, very large skydive community presence here. We have the world’s largest drop zone, and so when this occurs in our community, it affects us,” Powell said.
This is the deadliest balloon crash since 2021 when five people died following a crash in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The NTSB has investigated 30 balloons that crashed in Arizona since 2000.
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