# Accident 20210626004079A: Cameron Balloons US O-120, Albuquerque, NM, June 26, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 26, 2021, 07:05 local time
- Place: Albuquerque, NM
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.0774° N, 106.7229° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0774&lon=-106.7229&mi=10
- Aircraft: N158NM, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N158NM) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cameron Balloons US O-120 (registry code 1880306, https://openairdocs.org/model/cameron-balloons-us-o-120) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CAMERON BALLOONS US O-120
- Reported engine: NONE NONE
- People aboard: 5
- Fatal injuries: 5
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,745 total, 291 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR21FA242](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21FA242) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210626004079A

## Narrative

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

ON 26 JUNE 2021 AT APPROXIMATELY 0705 MDT, A 2013 CAMERON O-120 LIGHTER THAN AIR BALLOON, N158NM REGISTERED TO ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. EXPERIENCED A CRASH AFTER CONTACTING ELECTRICAL POWER LINES, VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME, AND A VFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED. THE BALLOON WAS DESTROYED, AND THE FAA CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOT AND FOUR PASSENGERS WERE FATALLY INJURED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM A LAUNCH AREA IN NW ALBUQUERQUE, NM, 35°8'39"N - 106°41'28"W AT APPROXIMATELY 0645 MDT.

FLIGHT ENDED AT SET COORDINATES 35°4'36"N - 106°43'22"W IN ALBUQUERQUE,NM. AFTER CONTACTING A HIGH VOLTAGE POWERLINE CARRYING 115 THOUSAND VOLTS, THE GONDOLA SEPARATED CRASHING TO THE GROUND. ALL OCCUPANTS SUSTAINED FATAL ELECTRICAL SHOCK.  THE ENVELOPE SEPARATED AND TRAVELED 1.9 MILES WHERE IT DESCENDED AND LANDED AT SET COORDINATES 35°4'0"N - 106°43'17"W

IT IS THE OPINION OF THE INSPECTOR IN CHARGE (IIC),

THE PILOT FAILED TO CLEAR A 75 FOOT ELECTRICAL POWERLINE CARRYING 115 THOUSAND VOLTS WHILE DESCENDING, RESULTING IN FATALLY INJURING THE PILOT AND 4 OCCUPANTS.

INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO MECHANICAL ANOMALIES AND/OR CONTRIBUTING FACTORS IN THIS ACCIDENT.

## 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 WPR21FA242](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21FA242), Jun 26, 2021: Cameron Balloons US O-120 (N158NM), Albuquerque, NM, destroyed, 5 fatal. Probable cause: The failure of the pilot to maintain adequate clearance from power lines while maneuvering for landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s use of impairing, illicit drugs.

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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