The pilot of a hot air balloon that crashed in the Arizona desert earlier this year, killing four people, reportedly had elevated levels of ketamine in his system.
A coroner’s report obtained by USA Today said 37-year-old Cornelius van der Walt had enough ketamine in his blood to be considered impaired. He did not have a prescription for the drug, and rescue workers who tried to resuscitate him did not use it, the report said.
Van der Walt, who lives in Eloy and is originally from South Africa, was piloting a balloon carrying 13 adults on January 14. Eight skydivers jumped off before the balloon developed problems, while Van der Walt and four others remained on board. .
A National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) preliminary report released on January 25 said the balloon crashed into a vacant lot in a desert area 60 miles (100 kilometers) southeast of Phoenix after an “unexplained issue.”
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The National Transportation Safety Board is still investigating the cause of the accident. (FOX10 Phoenix KSAZ)
“A review of multiple cell phone videos showed the balloon descending, dragging the deflated envelope from above,” the NTSB report said, adding that the flame from the burner underneath the envelope was sometimes visible. He added that he was seen.
Investigators also found heat damage to the envelope near its opening, frayed rim tape material sewn near the top of the envelope, and damage to several panels.
Four people, including the pilot, died in the hot air balloon crash. The 23-year-old woman suffered serious injuries but survived. (FOX10 Phoenix KSAZ)
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Van der Walt was killed along with three passengers, identified as Cheyton Wiecholek, 28, of Union City, Michigan. Caitlin Bartrom, 28, of Andrews, Indiana. and Atahan Kirikoto, 24, of Cupertino, California.
A fourth passenger who survived with serious injuries was identified by police as Valerie Stutterheima, 23, of Scottsdale, Arizona.
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The NTSB investigation could take more than a year to complete its final report on the crash.
