20071009022699A

Accident · Minor damage

FAA accident report · Sproul 72K-TET · Rio Rancho, NM · October 9, 2007

Date: October 9, 2007 · 08:30 local
Place: Rio Rancho, NM
Phase of flight: Descent
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Minor damage
Aircraft: N72KX
NTSB investigation: NTSBDEN08LA005
Reported as: Sproul 72KTET
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 20 total650 in this make and model70 in the last 90 days

N72KXRegistered now · Sproul Keith A 72K-TETS/N S-003 · Built 2004 Airframe modelSproul Keith A 72K-TET Engine 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.

(-23) On October 9, 2007, at approximately 0830 local time, the pilot of N72KX, a Sproul model 72K-TET balloon, serial number S-003, made a hard landing near the intersection of loma vista and high resort in Rio Rancho, new Mexico. The pilot reported that he was aiming for a good landing site, when he encountered a 16 knot wind at the surface which caused him to overshoot his intended landing location. The balloon basket hit a block wall in a new residential lot. The basket knocked off the top three rows of blocks and came to rest on an elevated ledge in the lot. One of the passengers was injured when the basket hit the block wall.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON OCTOBER 9, 2007, AT APPROXIMATELY 0830 LOCAL TIME, THE PILOT OF N72KX, A SPROUL MODEL 72K-TET BALLOON, SERIAL NUMBER S-003, MADE A HARD LANDING NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF LOMA VISTA AND HIGH RESORT IN RIO RANCHO, NEW MEXICO. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS AIMING FOR A GOOD LANDING SITE, WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED A 16 KNOT WIND AT THE SURFACE WHICH CAUSED HIM TO OVERSHOOT HIS INTENDED LANDING LOCATION. THE BALLOON BASKET HIT A BLOCK WALL IN A NEW RESIDENTIAL LOT. THE BASKET KNOCKED OFF THE TOP THREE ROWS OF BLOCKS AND CAME TO REST ON AN ELEVATED LEDGE IN THE LOT. ONE OF THE PASSENGERS WAS INJURED WHEN THE BASKET HIT THE BLOCK WALL.

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 DEN08LA005Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRio Rancho, NMThe pilot's inadequate inflight planning/judgment, and his selection of unsuitable terrain on which to make a landing. Contributing factors in this accident were the unfavorable wind, and the pilot misjudging his airspeed.Oct 9, 2007 · No damage

Other reports on N72KX · 1

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

Accident 20081010852639ACruise/Level Flight · Bernalillo, NMOn October 10, 2008 at 0753 MDT an experimental amature built balloon, N72KX, was destroyed by fire when it came in contanct with electrical power lines. The pilot sustained very serious injuries and the passenger was fatally injured. When the gondola of the…Oct 10, 2008 · Destroyed · 1 fatal