# NTSB DEN03LA119: Eagle Balloons C-7, N360E, Rio Rancho, NM, July 1, 2003

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 1, 2003, 07:45 local (13:45 UTC)
- Place: Rio Rancho, NM
- Coordinates: 35.349998, -106.621665
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3500&lon=-106.6217&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 57397
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03LA119
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57397/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA119

## Probable cause

a hard landing for undetermined reasons.  Factors relating to the accident were the unfavorable winds and landing on hilly terrain.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that when the balloon took off, the winds were calm.  He reported on landing they were approximately 10 knots.  The pilot said he made a stand-up landing on hilly terrain.  The pilot reported that the landing was a hard landing, but was not one of the hardest landings he'd experienced.  During the landing, the passenger suffered a compound fracture in her lower left leg.

## Factual narrative

On July 1, 2003, at 0745 mountain daylight time, an Eagle Balloons Corporation C-7 balloon, N360E, piloted by a private pilot, sustained a hard landing at Rio Rancho, New Mexico.  During the hard landing, a passenger on board the balloon was seriously injured.  The balloon sustained no damage and the pilot was uninjured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.  The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan.  The local flight originated at 0710.

The pilot reported that the winds were calm when they took off.  He reported on landing they were approximately 10 knots.  The pilot said he made a stand-up landing in hilly terrain.  The pilot reported that the landing was a hard landing, but was not one of the hardest landings he'd experienced.

A Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported the passenger suffered a compound fracture in her lower left leg during the landing.  The passenger was transported to a local hospital.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N360E (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Eagle Balloons Corp. C-7
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: E81707
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Ohio Knox III
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: Rio Rancho, NM

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; private; last flight review August 8, 2001

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observed at: ABQ, 10 nm away

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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