# Accident 20131009021669A: Cameron Balloons US V-77, Rio Rancho, NM, October 9, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 9, 2013, 08:45 local time
- Place: Rio Rancho, NM
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.3147° N, 106.6486° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3147&lon=-106.6486&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9528A, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9528A-2018-07-09) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cameron Balloons US V-77 (registry code 1880206, https://openairdocs.org/model/cameron-balloons-us-v-77) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CAMERON BALLOONS US V-77
- Reported engine: NONE NONE
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 290 total, 105 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN14LA007](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA007) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20131009021669A

## Narrative

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

ON OCTOBER 9, 2013, AT APPROXIMATELY 0845 MDT, N9528A, A CAMERON BALLOONS MODEL V-77, , WAS ON A LOCAL FLIGHT UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES.  THE BALLOON WAS PARTICIPATING IN THE ALBUQUERQUE INTERNATIONAL BALLOON FIESTA (AIBF) COMPETITION.  IT HAD DEPARTED FROM THE BALLOON FIESTA FIELD PARK.  AFTER LEAVING THE COMPLETION TARGET AREA, THE BALLOON FLEW WEST AND NORTH FOR APPROXIMATELY 45 MINUTES BEFORE SELECTING A LANDING SITE.  ON ITS APPROACH TO LANDING, THE BALLOON STRUCK AND BECAME ENTANGLED IN ELECTRICAL POWER LINES. THE PILOT BURNED TO CLIMB AND LIFT THE BALLOON UP AND OFF OF THE LINES.  THE WIND PUSHED THE BALLOON WITH ENOUGH FORCE THAT THE POWER LINES CAME CLOSE ENOUGH TO DISCHARGE AN ELECTRICAL ARC AROUND OR THROUGH THE GONDOLA.  THE ELECTRIC ARC SERIOUSLY INJURED THE PASSENGER AND INJURED THE PILOT.  THE BALLOON WENT FREE FROM THE POWER LINES AND DESCENDED TO A LANDING ON THE DOWNWIND SIDE ON THE POWER LINES.  THERE WERE NO ADDITIONAL INJURIES TO THE PEOPLE OR DAMAGE TO THE BALLOON FROM THE LANDING.

## 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 CEN14LA007](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA007), Oct 9, 2013: Cameron Balloons US V 77 (N9528A), Rio Rancho, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from power lines on approach to land, resulting in a collision with the wires, a spark, and a subsequent explosion and on-board fire.

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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