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October 3, 1982 · Thunder Balloons AX9-140 · N9606A

Albuquerque, NM

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 3, 1982
Injury Outcomes
8 injuries (4 fatalities, 3 serious injuries, 1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Location
Albuquerque, NM
Aircraft
Thunder Balloons AX9-140
Tail Number
N9606A
Operator
Joseph a Gonzales
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
FTW83FA001

AFTER WHAT WAS DESCRIBED AS A NORMAL LANDING LIQUID PROPANE BEGAN ESCAPING. THE PROPANE VAPORIZED & WAS IGNITED ENGULFING THE GONDOLA IN FLAMES. FOUR PAX EXITED THE GONDOLA WHILE IT WAS STILL ON THE GROUND & THE LAST SURVIVOR EXITEDAT ABOUT 25 FT AS THE BALLOON BEGAN RISING. THE REMAINING 4 PAX BEGAN JUMPING OR FALLING FROM THE GONDOLA AT ABOUT 100 FT WITH THE LAST EXITING AT AN ESTIMATED 600 FT AGL. THE BALLOON CONTINUED TO RISE & AT ABOUT 1,000 FT TWO PROPANE TANKS EXPLODED. THE OWNER/PILOT HAD INSTALLED 6 PROPANE CYLINDERS. A PORTION OF ONE TEE FITTING WAS DETERMINED TO BE BRASS, & ACCORDING TO A METALLURGICAL REPORT THE HOSES USED TO MANIFOLD THE PROPANE CYLINDERS WERE DETERMINED TO BE RUBBER COVERED BY A WOVEN FABRIC. ONLY CADIUM PLATED STEEL FITTINGS & WIRE MESH REINFORCED HOSES WERE RECOMMENDED BY THUNDER BALLOONS,LTD. & AT NO TIME WOULD BRASS FITTINGS & NON-WIRE MESH HOSES BE RECOMMENDED BY THEM.

Full Narrative

AFTER WHAT WAS DESCRIBED AS A NORMAL LANDING LIQUID PROPANE BEGAN ESCAPING. THE PROPANE VAPORIZED & WAS IGNITED ENGULFING THE GONDOLA IN FLAMES. FOUR PAX EXITED THE GONDOLA WHILE IT WAS STILL ON THE GROUND & THE LAST SURVIVOR EXITEDAT ABOUT 25 FT AS THE BALLOON BEGAN RISING. THE REMAINING 4 PAX BEGAN JUMPING OR FALLING FROM THE GONDOLA AT ABOUT 100 FT WITH THE LAST EXITING AT AN ESTIMATED 600 FT AGL. THE BALLOON CONTINUED TO RISE & AT ABOUT 1,000 FT TWO PROPANE TANKS EXPLODED. THE OWNER/PILOT HAD INSTALLED 6 PROPANE CYLINDERS. A PORTION OF ONE TEE FITTING WAS DETERMINED TO BE BRASS, & ACCORDING TO A METALLURGICAL REPORT THE HOSES USED TO MANIFOLD THE PROPANE CYLINDERS WERE DETERMINED TO BE RUBBER COVERED BY A WOVEN FABRIC. ONLY CADIUM PLATED STEEL FITTINGS & WIRE MESH REINFORCED HOSES WERE RECOMMENDED BY THUNDER BALLOONS,LTD. & AT NO TIME WOULD BRASS FITTINGS & NON-WIRE MESH HOSES BE RECOMMENDED BY THEM.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:47 MDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireBoth
Aircraft ExplosionBoth

Aircraft

AircraftThunder Balloons AX9-140
Tail NumberN9606A
Aircraft CategoryBall
DamageSubstantial
OperatorJoseph a Gonzales
Operating RulePart 91
Engines0
Engine TypeUnknown
Engine DetailsUnknown
Seats8

People & Injuries

Injury Summary8 injuries (4 fatalities, 3 serious injuries, 1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Fatal4
Serious3
Minor1
Uninjured1
Total9
Crew 1Age 41 · Unknown

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind360° @ 5 kt
Visibility50 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point15 C / 0 C
Altimeter0

Appendix: Source Data