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NTSB Report
September 4, 1988 · Thunder And Colt AX8-90 · N90EH
Las Cruces, NM
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 4, 1988
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 minor injuries), 2 uninjured, 1 unknown outcome
Location
Las Cruces, NM
Aircraft
Thunder And Colt AX8-90
Tail Number
N90EH
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
DEN88LA200
THE COMMERCIAL BALLOON PLT WAS PARTICIPATING IN A BALLOON RALLY. DURING LANDING, THE PLT NOTICED THE BALLOON WAS DRIFTING TOWARD POWER LINES. HE ELECTED TO OPEN THE DEFLATION VALVE AT 30 FT AGL, TO ATTEMPT TO LAND SHORT OF THE LINES. THE BALLOON TOUCHED DOWN 50 FT FROM THE LINES AND CONTINUED TO BE DRAGGED TOWARD THEM. THE BASKET CAME TO REST 30 FT FROM THE LINES, AND AS THE PASSENGERS DEPARTED THE BASKET, THE ENVELOPE CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE POWER LINES. THE PYROMETER CABLE CARRIED CURRENT DOWN TO THE BASKET INJURING ONE PASSENGER AND THE GROUND CREWMAN.
Full Narrative
THE COMMERCIAL BALLOON PLT WAS PARTICIPATING IN A BALLOON RALLY. DURING LANDING, THE PLT NOTICED THE BALLOON WAS DRIFTING TOWARD POWER LINES. HE ELECTED TO OPEN THE DEFLATION VALVE AT 30 FT AGL, TO ATTEMPT TO LAND SHORT OF THE LINES. THE BALLOON TOUCHED DOWN 50 FT FROM THE LINES AND CONTINUED TO BE DRAGGED TOWARD THEM. THE BASKET CAME TO REST 30 FT FROM THE LINES, AND AS THE PASSENGERS DEPARTED THE BASKET, THE ENVELOPE CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE POWER LINES. THE PYROMETER CABLE CARRIED CURRENT DOWN TO THE BASKET INJURING ONE PASSENGER AND THE GROUND CREWMAN.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time08:30 MDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftThunder And Colt AX8-90
Tail NumberN90EH
Aircraft CategoryBall
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines0
Engine TypeUnknown
Engine DetailsUnknown
People & Injuries
Injury Summary2 injuries (2 minor injuries), 2 uninjured, 1 unknown outcome
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor2
Uninjured2
Total5
Crew 1Age 53 · None
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind4 kt, gusting 7 kt
Visibility30 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point64 F / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO