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19971010045221A

Accident
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FAA accident report · Arostr RX 8 · Albuquerque, NM · October 10, 1997

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
October 10, 1997 · 08:40 local
Place
Albuquerque, NM
Airport
Balloon Park
Phase of flight
Descent
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Collision
Midair collision, first aircraft
Aircraft
N71415
NTSB investigation
NTSBFTW98LA009
Reported as
Arostr RX8
People aboard
2
Fatal injuries
0
Pilot’s flight hours
200 total200 in this make and model23 in the last 90 days
N71415Registered now · Aerostar International RX 8S/N RX8-3237 · Built 1995Airframe modelAerostar International RX 8Engine modelNONENone

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

The two balloons were participating in the Albuquerque international balloon fiesta. According to witnesses, N1602R was descending at an altitude of approximately 250 feet to 300 feet AGL. Another witness stated that N71415 was "moving towards N1602R adn was clearly descending rapidly while burning to arrest the descent." The pilot of N1602R reported that he was descending when the "top of my balloon was hit from above by the bottom of the basket of another balloon". The pilot of N71415 reported seeing N1602R "approaching below me at a slightly quicker ground speed: then N1602R began to ascend and I began to fire both of my burners." FAR 91.113(b) states the "vigilance shall be maintained by each person operating an aircraft so as to see and avoid other aircraft." Several balloon instructors stated that the balloon community teaches that the lower balloon has the right of way. Post accident examination of photographs taken during the collision sequence reveal that after seperating. N71415 rose approximately 275 feet, while N1602R maintained its position relative to the balloons around him.

As the FAA filed it

THE TWO BALLOONS WERE PARTICIPATING IN THE ALBUQUERQUE INTERNATIONAL BALLOON FIESTA. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, N1602R WAS DESCENDING AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 250 FEET TO 300 FEET AGL. ANOTHER WITNESS STATED THAT N71415 WAS "MOVING TOWARDS N1602R ADN WAS CLEARLY DESCENDING RAPIDLY WHILE BURNING TO ARREST THE DESCENT." THE PILOT OF N1602R REPORTED THAT HE WAS DESCENDING WHEN THE "TOP OF MY BALLOON WAS HIT FROM ABOVE BY THE BOTTOM OF THE BASKET OF ANOTHER BALLOON". THE PILOT OF N71415 REPORTED SEEING N1602R "APPROACHING BELOW ME AT A SLIGHTLY QUICKER GROUND SPEED: THEN N1602R BEGAN TO ASCEND AND I BEGAN TO FIRE BOTH OF MY BURNERS." FAR 91.113(B) STATES THE "VIGILANCE SHALL BE MAINTAINED BY EACH PERSON OPERATING AN AIRCRAFT SO AS TO SEE AND AVOID OTHER AIRCRAFT." SEVERAL BALLOON INSTRUCTORS STATED THAT THE BALLOON COMMUNITY TEACHES THAT THE LOWER BALLOON HAS THE RIGHT OF WAY. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN DURING THE COLLISION SEQUENCE REVEAL THAT AFTER SEPERATING. N71415 ROSE APPROXIMATELY 275 FEET, WHILE N1602R MAINTAINED ITS POSITION RELATIVE TO THE BALLOONS AROUND HIM.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB FTW98LA009Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportAlbuquerque, NMThe failure of the pilot of the Aerostar RX 8, N71415, to follow procedures/directives.Oct 10, 1997 · 2 aircraft · No damage