# Accident 20091005020069A: Raven RX7, Albuquerque, NM, October 5, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 5, 2009, 08:02 local time
- Place: Albuquerque, NM
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.1872° N, 106.5872° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1872&lon=-106.5872&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9126K, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9126K) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aerostar International RX-7 (registry code 7487007, https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-international-rx-7) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: RAVEN RX7
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 265 total, 230 in this make and model, 23 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN10CA010](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA010) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091005020069A

## Narrative

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

ON OCTOBER 5, 2009 AT 0802 MDT N9126K, AN AEROSTAR RX-7 HOT AIR BALLOON, STRUCK A TENT SUPPORTING STRUCTURE WHILE APPROACHING A TARGET AREA DURING A BALLOON COMPETITION.  A PASSENGER WAS EJECTED FROM THE BALLOON BASKET AND THE BALLOON CLIMBED RAPIDLY AFTER THE PASSENGER WAS EJECTED.  WHEN THE PILOT, WHO REMAINED ON BOARD TRIED TO STOP THE RAPID ASCENT, THE THROAT OF THE BALLOON COLLAPSED AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO PUT IN ENOUGH HOT AIR TO STOP THE NOW RAPIDLY DESCENDING BALLOON.  THE BALLOON MADE A HARD LANDNG ON THE BALLOON FIESTA PARK IN ALBUQUERQUE, NM.  BOTH THE EJECTED PASSENGER AND THE PILOT SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES.  THE PILOT, THE OWNER OF THE BALLOON, WAS PARTICIPATING IN THE ALBUQUERQUE INTERNALTIONAL BALLOON FIESTA.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED UNDER UNDER 14 CFR PART 91 VISUAL FLIGHT RULES.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS EXISTED AT THE TIME AND NO VFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED.

## 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 CEN10CA010](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA010), Oct 5, 2009: Aerostar International RX-7 (N9126K), Albuquerque, NM, minor damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from a known obstacle and the pilot’s failure to maintain control of the balloon during the sudden climb following the ejection of the passenger.

## Other reports on N9126K (1)

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

- [Accident 20191007023419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191007023419A), Oct 7, 2019: Aerostar International Inc RX-7 (N9126K), Rio Rancho, NM, Substantial damage. On October 7,2019, at 0900 MDT, an Aerostar International Inc RX-7, N9126K, [privacy data omitted], experienced a hard landing approximately 021.87 degrees,…

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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