# Accident 19971206037379A: Adams A55S, Gallup, NM, December 6, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 6, 1997, 09:25 local time
- Place: Gallup, NM
- Phase of flight: Other Ground Ops
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.5191° N, 108.7307° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5191&lon=-108.7307&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1063V, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1063V) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Adams Balloon A55S (registry code 0050105, https://openairdocs.org/model/adams-balloon-a55s) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ADAMS A55S
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW98LA064](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA064) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971206037379A

## Narrative

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

PASSENGERS DEBARKED. BALLOON ROSE. ONE GROUND CREW CARRIED TO 40FT AGL THEN FELL 40FT TO GROUND. (-23) ON 12/06/97, APPROXIMATELY 0925 MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME, A GROUND CREW MEMBER WAS FATALLY INJURED WHILE TRYING TO SECURE N1063V, AN ADAMS A55S, HOT AIR BALLOON DURING LANDING. THE BALLOON LANDED AND FOUR GROUND CREWMEMBERS HELD ONTO THE BASKET WHILE TWO PASSENGERS EXITED. THE BALLOON BEGAN TO ASCEND. ONE OF THE GROUND CREWMEMBERS WAS CARRIED ALOFT AND AT APPROXIMATELY 40 FEET FELL FROM THE BALLOON.

## 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 FTW98LA064](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA064), Dec 6, 1997: Adams A55S (N1063V), Gallup, NM, no damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: failure of the ground crewman to follow proper procedures. A factor relating to the accident was: the passenger failed to follow the pilot's verbal instructions.

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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