Pilot in Fatal Arizona Hot Air Balloon Crash Had High Ketamine Levels, Report Reveals

A toxicology report indicates Cornelius Van Der Walt, the pilot involved in the January crash that killed four, had significantly elevated ketamine levels in his blood.

The pilot of a hot air balloon crash in Arizona that resulted in four fatalities had high levels of ketamine in his system, according to a forensic examination.
Cornelius van der Walt, 37, showed ketamine levels far exceeding the threshold for impaired driving, with no prescription reported for the drug.
The January crash killed the pilot and three passengers, while critically injuring another, amidst a catastrophic problem with the balloon's envelope.
Investigations into the crash by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) revealed damage to the balloon's envelope, including thermal damage and frayed materials.
The cause of death for the victims was identified as multiple blunt force trauma, classifying the incident as an accident.