# NTSB CEN09LA318: Aerostar International S-60A, N120RB, Albuquerque, NM, May 25, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 25, 2009, 08:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Albuquerque, NM
- Coordinates: 35.090103, -106.899459 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0901&lon=-106.8995&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 9, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 73914
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09LA318
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73914/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73914
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA318

## Probable cause

The pilot's excessive descent rate.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aerostar International S-60A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md?model=7486060), [All aircraft, 137 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Aerostar International S-60A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=7486060), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Aerostar International S-60A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7486060), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

On a scenic balloon flight with four passengers, the pilot located a clear area to land the balloon. As the pilot maneuvered the balloon to the area, the wind the pilot was expecting did not materialize and the pilot picked an alternate site. In order to remain clear of obstacles, the pilot "vented" the balloon "and had a hard landing." During the landing, one of the passengers sustained a broken ankle.

## Factual narrative

On May 25, 2009, at approximately 0830 mountain daylight time, an Aerostar International Inc., S-60A balloon, N120RB, piloted by a commercial pilot, landed hard near Albuquerque, New Mexico. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The scenic flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and three passengers were not injured; however, the fourth passenger received a broken ankle. The local flight originated about 0715. In a statement provided to the NTSB, the pilot stated that he had located an area to land the balloon. As the pilot maneuvered the balloon to the area, the wind the pilot was expecting did not materialize, and the pilot picked an alternate site. In order to remain clear of obstacles the pilot "vented" the balloon "and had a hard landing."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N120RB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N120RB-2014-12-22), registration cancelled 2014-12-22, S/N S60A-3075, built 1988 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSTAR INTERNATIONAL INC S-60A
- Registry model: [Aerostar International S-60A](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-international-s-60a) (registry code 7486060) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: S60A-3075
- Airframe hours: 154
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Other work use, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 13, 2009
- Departed: Albuquerque, NM
- Destination: Albuquerque, NM

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 15, 2008; flight hours: 430 total, 41 in this make and model, 382 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20090525009389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090525009389A), May 25, 2009: Raven S60A, Albuquerque, NM, No damage. (-23) On may 25, 2009 at 0830 MDT, N120RB, an Aerostar international balloon, made a hard landing on a fenced yard east of the hotel Albuquerque in "old town"…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 7, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73914. 1.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40315628&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF

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.

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