# Accident 19961008044049A: Arostr RX8, Albuquerque, NM, October 8, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 8, 1996, 09:30 local time
- Place: Albuquerque, NM
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.1799° N, 106.5896° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1799&lon=-106.5896&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3581D, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3581D) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aerostar International RX 8 (registry code 7487008, https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-international-rx-8) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AROSTR RX8
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 695 total, 450 in this make and model, 22 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW97LA023](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA023) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961008044049A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

HIGH WIND LANDING. BASKET TIPPED OVER. A PASSENGER FELL ON THE OTHER FRACTURING HIS LEG. (-23) ON 10/08/96 AT 9:30 AM MDT, A PASSENGER SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURIES WHILE LANDING IN A AEROSTAR RX8 HOT AIR BALLOON (N3581D). THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED NEAR MONTANO BLVD AND I-25, IN ALBUQUERQUE, NM. THE AIRCRAFT WAS LANDING AFTER THE SECOND HOP OF A MORNING PLEASURE FLIGHT. THE PILOT STATED THE SURFACE WIND HAD INCREASED TO APPROXIMATELY 15 KNOTS. HE BRIEFED AND POSITIONED HIS PASSENGERS FOR A HIGH WIND LANDING. DURING THE LANDING DRAG, ONE PASSENGER FELL AGAINST THE OTHER PASSENGER, AND FRACTURED HIS LEG. THE AIRCRAFT IS REGISTERED TO GLEN M. SEE; ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^                      VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED. MR. SEE HOLDS A U.S. COMMERCIAL PILOT CERTIFICATE #527580637.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW97LA023](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA023), Oct 8, 1996: Aerostar RX 8 (N3581D), Albuquerque, NM, no damage. Probable cause: A sudden increase in wind velocity.

## Other reports on N3581D (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19891008039329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891008039329A), Oct 8, 1989: Arostr RX8 (N3581D), Albuquerque, NM, Substantial damage. Basket caught a parking lot barrier cable on landing. Ejected pilot and a passenger. Balloon rose,hit powerlines.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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