# Accident 20231014018279A: Cameron Balloons U S A-315, Albuquerque, NM, October 14, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 14, 2023, 08:10 local time
- Place: Albuquerque, NM
- Damage: No damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.1799° N, 106.5900° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1799&lon=-106.5900&mi=10
- Aircraft: N315RR, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N315RR) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cameron Balloons U S A-315 (registry code 1880118, https://openairdocs.org/model/cameron-balloons-u-s-a-315) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CAMERON BALLOONS U S A-315
- Reported engine: NONE NONE
- People aboard: 13
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR24LA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA019) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231014018279A

## Narrative

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

ON OCTOBER 14, 2023, AT APPROXIMATELY 0750 MDT, A CAMERON BALLOONS A-315 HOT AIR BALLOON WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON THE EAST SIDE OF ALBUQUERQUE, NM. THE PILOT STATED THAT AT ABOUT 75 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND (AGL) HE ENCOUNTERED A MID-AIR WIND SHEAR/TURBULENT AIR WHICH FORCED THE BALLOON TOWARD THE GROUND MUCH FASTER THAN ANTICIPATED; THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO ARREST THE FAST DESCENT RATE. A PASSENGER BROKE HER ANKLE DURING THE RESULTING HARD LANDING. NO FAA FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT THE ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^(AIBF) LAUNCH FIELD NEAR INTERSTATE HIGHWAY I-25 IN ALBUQUERQUE, NM. THE FAA COMMERCIAL PILOT AND THE OTHER 11 PASSENGERS WERE NOT INJURED.

## 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 WPR24LA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA019), Oct 14, 2023: Cameron Balloons U S A-315 (N315RR), Albuquerque, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inability to maintain control of the balloon during landing due to unforecasted windshear and turbulent air.

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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