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Incident
Deputy Sheriff Scott Ballantyne and Mr. James Chavez, a civilian pilot, were killed in an airplane crash near Lake Success at approximately 4:15 pm.
The aircraft was assisting deputies on the ground search for a subject wanted for brandishing a firearm. It was preparing to leave the area after the suspect was arrested when it suddenly lost altitude and crashed into a mountain in the area of Route 190 in Springville.
Deputy Ballantyne and Mr. Chavez were the only two occupants of the CTLE ultralight.
Deputy Ballantyne had served with the Tulare County Sheriff's Office for 27 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his mother and sister.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
27 years. You could have gone home.
Deputy Sheriff Ballantyne gave the Tulare County Sheriff's Office 27 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Visalia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Ballantyne.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Tulare County Sheriff's Office has lost 16 officers; 10 of them lost to accidents.
Scott is one of 720 officers lost to accidents in CA, 39.2% of the 1,839 remembered there.
Scott is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Scott is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.8% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2016, 1 officer at Tulare County Sheriff's Office was lost to accidents, the 2nd heaviest of 9 years on record. The heaviest was 1985, with 2.
In 2016, 4 officers in CA were lost to accidents, the 83rd heaviest of 128 years on record. The heaviest was 1969, with 14.
In 2016, 52 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 90th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 2016, 52 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 101st heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Scott was 52. Of the 10 lost to accidents at Tulare County Sheriff's Office whose age is recorded, half were between 32.3 and 47.5; the middle age was 34. Scott had served 27 years; the middle length of service was 12 years.
Scott was 52. Of the 690 lost to accidents in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 42.8; the middle age was 35. Scott had served 27 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Scott was 52. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Scott had served 27 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Scott was 52. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Scott had served 27 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
February holds 20% of these deaths at Tulare County Sheriff's Office; December holds the most, 20%. Wednesdays: 20%.
February holds 7.9% of these deaths in CA; August holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 15.4%.
February holds 7.2% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Wednesdays: 14.5%.
February holds 7.2% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Wednesdays: 14.5%.
How
Accident deaths account for 62.5% of all 16 deaths at Tulare County Sheriff's Office, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 39.2% of all 1,839 deaths in CA, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.8% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Tulare County Sheriff's Office has 16 officers remembered here, Scott among them.
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John Nicolas Wren Jul 5, 1889
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Oscar A. Beaver
Aug 6, 1892
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Carl Oscar Johnson
Sep 30, 1951
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Ross Clifford Cochran
Nov 19, 1951
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Vernon Cox
Apr 15, 1965
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Carlos Manuel Magana
Dec 9, 1970
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Monty Lewis Conley
Aug 5, 1985
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Joe Ruiz Landin
Aug 5, 1985
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Michael Robert Egan
May 2, 1989
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Kevin Eugene Elium
Oct 7, 2005
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Kent Minor Haws
Dec 17, 2007
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Greg Hernandez, Jr.
Feb 6, 2009
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Jeremy Wayne Meyst
Dec 24, 2013
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Scott Alfred Ballantyne
Feb 10, 2016
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Frank Gonzalez Holguin, III
Jan 27, 2021
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Randy Hoppert
Apr 9, 2026
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 4-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
15 officers from Tulare County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
