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October 10, 2012 · Aerostar International RX8 NO Series · N90550

Albuquerque, NM

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 10, 2012
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 minor injuries), 1 uninjured
Location
Albuquerque, NM
Aircraft
Aerostar International RX8 NO Series
Tail Number
N90550
Operator
Individual
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN13LA032

After attending a mandatory preflight briefing at a balloon festival, the pilot launched his balloon with the first group of balloons to launch. During an approach for landing in a field, the balloon encountered stronger-than-expected wind. The approach to the landing crossed power lines, a commercial building, and a fence. The pilot stated that as the balloon approached the field, it became unresponsive and impacted the fence; he thought that the balloon encountered a "false heavy," or wind shear, which resulted in a loss of lift.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s failure to attain the desired touchdown point because of wind conditions and surrounding obstructions, which resulted in the balloon impacting a fence during the approach to landing.

Full Narrative

On October 10, 2012, about 0850 mountain daylight time, an Aerostar International Inc, RX 8, N90550, experienced a high wind landing and impact with a fence near Albuquerque, New Mexico, during the International Balloon Fiesta 2012. The balloon sustained substantial damage to the basket and envelope. The private pilot was uninjured and two passengers sustained minor injuries. The balloon was registered to and operated by an individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan had not been filed for the flight that departed from the Balloon Fiesta Field (AIBF), near Albuquerque, New Mexico, about 0800. The pilot stated that after attending a mandatory pilot briefing at AIBF, the balloon was launched with the first wave of balloons. About 45 minutes after the launch, an approach for landing was made near the Frito Lay Distribution Center where the pilot found the winds were faster than forecasted. The balloon descended from a "quicker" wind layer and the pilot found the balloon unresponsive in attempts to level out and land the balloon just south of a fenced area; however, the balloon impacted the fence. The pilot believed that there was a rotor type wind coming off a higher area to the east. The balloon experienced a false heavy, and the balloon became unresponsive, forcing it into the fence. The wind pushed the balloon further west and hampered the location of the intended landing. There were east/west power lines near the north side of the Frito Lay Distribution Center. The area south of fence was a field that did not contain any structure for about 300 feet. The southern edge of the field was delineated by at an east/west road. The were also other buildings south of the east/west road.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time08:50 MDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAerostar International RX8 NO Series
Tail NumberN90550
Aircraft CategoryBall
DamageSubstantial
OperatorIndividual
Operating RulePart 91
Engines0

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 minor injuries), 1 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor2
Uninjured1
Total3
Crew 1Age 43 · None · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind10° @ 9 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point54 / 34 C
Altimeter30.23 inHg
Observation Time14:52
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data