# NTSB CEN10CA010: Aerostar International RX-7, N9126K, Albuquerque, NM, October 5, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: October 5, 2009, 08:02 local (14:02 UTC)
- Place: Albuquerque, NM
- Coordinates: 35.187221, -106.587219 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1872&lon=-106.5872&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report December 29, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Albuquerque FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74873
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA010
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74873/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74873
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA010

## 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.

## Findings

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

- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aerostar International RX-7, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=7487007), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: residence/building](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022022): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Aerostar International RX-7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022022/cases.md?model=7487007), [All aircraft, 58 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022022/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Aerostar International RX-7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=7487007), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aerostar International RX-7, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7487007), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Aerostar International RX-7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=7487007), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Inflight upset](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/271); cases with it: [Aerostar International RX-7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/271/sequence.md?model=7487007), [All aircraft, 74 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/271/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Aerostar International RX-7, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=7487007), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR go-around: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270); cases with it: [Aerostar International RX-7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=7487007), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Aerostar International RX-7, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=7487007), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)

## Analysis

During a morning balloon competition flight the pilot was attempting to maneuver the balloon in order to drop a marker on a target. When approaching the target area the pilot said she was flying approximately 15 feet above ground level when she “burned to ascend” over a steel frame sponsor’s tent on the edge of the competition target area. The balloon cleared the rear of the tent, but the basket struck the front edge. A review of a video recording of the event shows that the impact abruptly tilted the basket more than 45 degrees. The passenger was ejected and fell approximately 30 feet to the ground. Suddenly minus the weight of the missing passenger the balloon then ascended rapidly and the pilot attempted to correct by venting. The rapid climb and the venting at the top of the balloon envelope caused the mouth of the balloon to close and the balloon then began descending rapidly. The pilot was unable to correct the descent with a burn because the closed mouth was being burned by the flames from the burner. The balloon landed hard and sustained minor damage. The passenger and pilot both sustained serious injuries.

## Factual narrative

During a morning balloon competition flight the pilot was attempting to maneuver the balloon in order to drop a marker on a target. When approaching the target area the pilot said she was flying at approximately 15 feet above ground level when she “burned to ascend” over a steel frame sponsor’s tent on the edge of the competition target area. The balloon cleared the rear of the tent but the basket struck the front edge. A review of a video recording of the event shows that the impact abruptly tilted the basket more than 45 degrees. The passenger was ejected and fell approximately 30 feet to the ground. Suddenly minus the weight of the missing passenger the balloon then ascended rapidly and the pilot attempted to correct by venting. The rapid climb and the venting at the top of the balloon envelope caused the mouth of the balloon to close and the balloon then began descending rapidly. The pilot was unable to correct the descent with a burn because the closed mouth was being burned by the flames from the burner. The balloon landed hard and sustained minor damage. The passenger and pilot both sustained serious injuries.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9126K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9126K), registered now, S/N RX7-3326, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSTAR INTERNATIONAL RX-7
- Registry model: [Aerostar International RX-7](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-international-rx-7) (registry code 7487007) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: RX7-3326
- Airframe hours: 192
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Air race/show, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 22, 2009, 5 hours before
- Departed: Albuquerque, NM
- Destination: Albuquerque, NM
- Airport: ABQ, Albuquerque Intl Sunport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; injuries: serious; commercial; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 18, 2008; flight hours: 230 total, 230 in this make and model, 209 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observed at: KABQ, 11 nm away

## 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 20091005020069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091005020069A), Oct 5, 2009: Raven RX7, Albuquerque, NM, Minor damage. 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…

## Other investigations on N9126K (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 GAA20CA012](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA012), Oct 7, 2019: Aerostar International RX 7 (N9126K), Rio Rancho, NM, destroyed. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate descent rate during landing, which resulted in a hard landing and a postaccident fire.

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 29, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74873. 249 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 249 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320559&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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