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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

October 13, 2001 · Aerostar Raven S57-A · N3636Z

Albuquerque, NM

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 13, 2001
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (1 serious injury, 2 minor injuries)
Location
Albuquerque, NM
Aircraft
Aerostar Raven S57-A
Tail Number
N3636Z
Operator
Bradley S Rice
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
FTW02LA014

The pilot intended for the flight to be short; however, after takeoff, the wind increased and the balloon over flew the intended landing area. The pilot then selected a field at a school in which to land. The field had wires along its edge. As the balloon was clearing the wires, the pilot vented the balloon, but the balloon continued to float past the field, impacting a wooden telephone post located near a building. The balloon rotated, struck the building, and came to rest with its basket on a fence. The pilot reported that at the time of the accident, the wind had increased to approximately 30 knots with gusts to 35 knots. A weather reporting station located approximately 7 miles southeast of the accident site reported the wind speed at 10 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause

inadvertent flight into adverse (high wind) weather conditions, which resulted in an inflight collision with objects while landing. A contributing factor was the high wind weather condition.

Full Narrative

On October 13, 2001, at 0755 mountain daylight time, an Aerostar Raven S57-A hot-air balloon, N3636Z, was substantially damaged when it collided with a building during landing near Albuquerque, New Mexico. The balloon was registered to and operated by private individuals. The private pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries, and one passenger sustained a serious injury. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight originated from the Balloon Fiesta Park, at 0740. The pilot reported to the FAA inspector that the intended flight was to be short; however, after takeoff, the wind increased and the balloon over flew the intended landing area. The pilot then selected a field at the Del Norte High School in which to land. The field had wires along its edge. As the balloon was clearing the wires, the pilot vented the balloon, but the balloon continued to float past the field, impacting a wooden telephone post located near a building. The balloon rotated, struck the building, and came to rest with its basket on a fence. The balloon's envelope, basket, and basket uprights were damaged. The pilot reported that at the time of the accident, the wind had increased to approximately 30 knots with gusts to 35 knots. At 0750, the Albuquerque International Sunport Airport (ABQ), located approximately 7 miles southeast of the accident site, reported the wind from 010 degrees at 10 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, sky clear, temperature 7 degrees C, dew point -13 degrees C, altimeter 30.01 inches of mercury (Hg).

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time07:55 MDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAerostar Raven S57-A
Tail NumberN3636Z
Aircraft CategoryBall
DamageSubstantial
OperatorBradley S Rice
Operating RulePart 91
Engines0

People & Injuries

Injury Summary3 injuries (1 serious injury, 2 minor injuries)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor2
Uninjured0
Total3
Crew 1Age 31 · None · Minor

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind10° @ 10 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point45 C / 9 C
Altimeter30.01 inHg
Observation Time13:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data