The pilot of a hot air balloon that crashed in the Arizona desert earlier this year, killing four people, had elevated levels of ketamine in his system. Cornelius van der Walt, 37, who was piloting the balloon, had enough ketamine in his blood to be considered impaired for driving. According to a medical examiner’s report, he did not have a prescription for the drug, and rescue crews that tried to revive him did not utilize it. Van der Walt, a resident of Eloy originally from South Africa, was piloting the balloon carrying 13 adults on January 14 when the crash occurred.
The balloon crashed into an empty field in a desert area 65 miles southeast of Phoenix after an unspecified problem occurred. Prior to the crash, eight skydivers had jumped from the balloon without any issues, while Van der Walt and four others remained on board. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a preliminary report on January 25, indicating that the balloon was descending with a deflated envelope trailing from above, with the burner flame under the envelope at times visible. Investigators found thermal damage near the mouth of the envelope and several damaged panels and frayed rim tape material near the top.
Van der Walt was killed in the crash along with three passengers identified as Chayton Wiescholek, Kaitlynn Bartrom, and Atahan Kiliccote. A fourth passenger, Valerie Stutterheima, survived with critical injuries. The NTSB investigation could take over a year to complete its final report on the crash. The report revealed that the balloon was descending with some mechanical issues present, which ultimately led to the crash in an empty field in the Arizona desert. The crash resulted in the tragic deaths of four individuals, including the pilot and three passengers.
The medical examiner’s report indicated that Van der Walt had ketamine in his system at levels high enough to be considered impaired for driving. Despite not having a prescription for the drug, rescue crews did not administer ketamine to him in their efforts to revive him. The crash occurred after eight skydivers had safely jumped from the balloon before any issues arose with the balloon. Van der Walt and four others remained on board when an unspecified problem caused the balloon to crash in the desert.
The NTSB’s preliminary report detailed the events leading up to the crash, including a deflated envelope trailing from above and thermal damage near the mouth of the envelope. The investigation revealed damaged panels and frayed rim tape material near the top of the envelope. While the cause of the crash is still under investigation, these findings provide valuable insights into the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident. As authorities work to determine the exact cause of the crash, the families of the victims await answers and closure.
