# Accident 20011013027339A: Thundr AX890S2, Albuquerque, NM, October 13, 2001 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: October 13, 2001, 08:15 local time - Place: Albuquerque, NM - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 35.1099° N, 106.5801° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1099&lon=-106.5801&mi=10 - Aircraft: N407TC, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N407TC-2013-11-08) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Thunder & Colt Airborne Amer AX8-90 S 2 (registry code 2301214, https://openairdocs.org/model/thunder-colt-airborne-amer-ax8-90-s-2) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: THUNDR AX890S2 - People aboard: 3 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 427 total, 280 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW02LA016](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA016) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011013027339A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (.19) ON OCTOBER 13, 2001, AT 0815 MOUNTAIN DAYLIGHT TIME, A THUNDER AND COLT, AX8-90 BALLOON, N407TC, STRUCK VEHICLES AND POLES DURING LANDING NEAR ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO. THE BALLOON WAS OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE PILOT UNDER 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91. THE PRIVATE PILOT AND HIS TWO PASSENGERS WERE NOT INJURED, AND THE BALLOON SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED THROUGHOUT THE AREA; HOWEVER THE WIND WAS REPORTED FROM 010 DEGREES AT 13 KNOTS GUSTING TO 18 KNOTS. A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED FOR THE LOCAL FLIGHT WHICH DEPARTED THE BALLOON FIESTA PARK AT 0810. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE LANDING IN THE GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS, THE BALLOON STRUCK A MOTOR HOME, SKIDDED ALONG THE GROUND, AND STRUCK A MINIVAN. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ENVELOPE CAUGHT 2 LIGHT POLES, BENDING THE POLES APPROXIMATELY 45 DEGREES, BEFORE THE BASKET CAME TO REST AGAINST A LAND CRUISER LOCATED IN THE PARKING LOT AT 5051 JOURNAL BOULEVARD. THE PLASTIC TOP OF THE MOTOR HOME WAS DAMAGED, THE RIGHT TAIL LIGHT WAS BROKEN ON THE MINIVAN, AND THE DOOR WAS DENTED ON THE LAND CRUISER. THE ENVELOPE WAS DESTROYED WITH MULTIPLE RIPPED PLACES FOUND THROUGHOUT, AND THE BASKET RECEIVED LIGHT SCRAPES. (-23) ON OCTOBER 13, 2001, AT 0815 MST, A THUNDER AND COLT AX8-90 BALLOON, N407TC, REGISTERED TO KEITH NEWBILL WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AFTER A HIGH WIND LANDING IN A PARKING LOT LOCATED AT 5051 JOURNAL BLVD. IN ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO WHILE ON A PLEASURE FLIGHT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME. THE PRIVATE PILOT AND HIS TWO PASSENGERS WERE NOT INJURED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM THE ALBUQUERQUE BALLOON FIESTA PARK AT 0810 MST. (.4) ON OCTOBER 13, 2001, AT 0810 MOUNTAIN DAYLIGHT TIME, A THUNDER AND COLT AX8-90 BALLOON, N407TC, STRUCK VEHICLES AND POLES DURING LANDING NEAR ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO. THE BALLOON WAS OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE PILOT UNDER 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91. THE PRIVATE PILOT AND HIS TWO PASSENGERS WERE NOT INJURED, AND THE BALLOON SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED THROUGHOUT THE AREA. A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED FOR THE LOCAL PERSONAL FLIGHT WHICH DEPARTED THE BALLOON FIESAT PARK APPROXIMATELY 0800. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE LANDING IN GU STY WIND CONDITIONS, THE BALLOON STRUCK A MOTOR HOME, SKIDDED ALONG THE GROUND, AND STRUCK A MINIVAN. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ENVELOPE CAUGHT 2 LIGHT POLES, BENDING THE POLES APPROXIMATELY 45 DEGREES, BEFORE THE BASKET CAME TO REST AGAINST A SPORT UTILITY VAN LOCATED IN THE PARKING LOT. THE PLASTIC TOP OF THE MOTOR HOME WAS DAMAGED, THE RIGHT TAIL LIGHT WAS BROKEN ON THE MINIVAN, AND THE DOOR WAS DENTED ON THE SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE. THE ENVELOPE RECEIVED MULTIPLE TEARS, AND THE BASKET RECEIVED LIGHT SCRAPES. AT 0756, THE ALBUQUERQUE WEATHER OBSERVATION FACILITY REPORTED THE WIND FROM 130 DEGREES AT 13 KNOTS GUSTING TO 18 KNOTS, VISIBILITY 10 STATUTE MILES, SKY CLEAR, TEMPERATURE 7 DEGREES CELSIUS (44 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT), AND DEW POINT -13 DEGREES CELSIUS (9 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT). THE ALTIMETER SETTING WAS 30.01 INCHES OF MERCURY. ## 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 FTW02LA016](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA016), Oct 13, 2001: Thunder and Colt AX8-90 (N407TC), Albuquerque, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the obstacles during landing. A contributing factor was the gusty winds. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.