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NTSB Report
October 8, 1992 · Raven S-60A · N8EN
Albuquerque, NM
Overview
Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 8, 1992
Injury Outcomes
6 injuries (2 serious injuries, 4 minor injuries), 2 uninjured
Location
Albuquerque, NM
Aircraft
Raven S-60A
Tail Number
N8EN
Operator
Butterfield Richard S
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
FTW93LA010
The pilot of balloon 'A' initiated an ascent from approximately 200 feet AGL at an estimated rate of 300 feet per minute. The pilot stated another balloon impacted his envelope with its basket at an estimated 350 feet AGL. The upper portion of the balloon's fabric was torn and ruptured. Balloon 'A' pilot initiated an emergency descent and landed hard. The pilot of balloon 'B' stated her altitude to be approximately 500 feet AGL when the midair occurred. She stated when she saw balloon 'A' she started burning continuously and observed an ascent rate of 500 feet per minute on her VSI. After impact she untangled the basket from the other balloon's envelope and made a normal landing. The FAA inspector reported the sequence of events as described by ground observers to be more near the statement made by the pilot of balloon 'A'. He also stated any balloon positioned higher than others is responsible to 'see and avoid'.
NTSB Probable Cause
THE PILOT OF THE OTHER AIRCRAFT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN VISUAL LOOKOUT.
Full Narrative
THE PILOT OF BALLOON 'A' INITIATED AN ASCENT FROM APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET AGL AT AN ESTIMATED RATE OF 300 FEET PER MINUTE. THE PILOT STATED ANOTHER BALLOON IMPACTED HIS ENVELOPE WITH ITS BASKET AT AN ESTIMATED 350 FEET AGL. THE UPPER PORTION OF THE BALLOON'S FABRIC WAS TORN AND RUPTURED. BALLOON 'A' PILOT INITIATED AN EMERGENCY DESCENT AND LANDED HARD. THE PILOT OF BALLOON 'B' STATED HER ALTITUDE TO BE APPROXIMATELY 500 FEET AGL WHEN THE MIDAIR OCCURRED. SHE STATED WHEN SHE SAW BALLOON 'A' SHE STARTED BURNING CONTINUOUSLY AND OBSERVED AN ASCENT RATE OF 500 FEET PER MINUTE ON HER VSI. AFTER IMPACT SHE UNTANGLED THE BASKET FROM THE OTHER BALLOON'S ENVELOPE AND MADE A NORMAL LANDING. THE FAA INSPECTOR REPORTED THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS AS DESCRIBED BY GROUND OBSERVERS TO BE MORE NEAR THE STATEMENT MADE BY THE PILOT OF BALLOON 'A'. HE ALSO STATED ANY BALLOON POSITIONED HIGHER THAN OTHERS IS RESPONSIBLE TO 'SEE AND AVOID'.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time07:32 MDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftRaven S-60A
Tail NumberN8EN
Aircraft CategoryBall
DamageSubstantial
OperatorButterfield Richard S
Operating RulePart 91
Engines0
Engine TypeUnknown
Engine DetailsUnknown | Unknown
Seats0
People & Injuries
Injury Summary6 injuries (2 serious injuries, 4 minor injuries), 2 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious2
Minor4
Uninjured2
Total8
Crew 1Age 51 · None
Crew 2Age 36 · None
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind30° @ 4 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point50 / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Weather SourcePILO