# NTSB DEN04CA103: Lindstrand Balloons 120A, N410LB, Albuquerque, NM, July 11, 2004

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 11, 2004, 07:00 local (13:00 UTC)
- Place: Albuquerque, NM
- Coordinates: 35.034442, -106.601669
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0344&lon=-106.6017&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 2 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 29, 2004
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 59610
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN04CA103
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59610/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04CA103

## Probable cause

the pilot's failure to maintain/obtain the proper descent rate.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing
  - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

During the landing, the balloon impacted the ground hard and tipped over. Two passengers from one side of the balloon fell on top of two passengers on the other side of the balloon causing serious injury to two passengers.

## Factual narrative

On July 11, 2004, at approximately 0700 mountain daylight time, a Lindstrand Balloon 120A, N410LB, piloted by a commercial pilot, landed hard and tipped over 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 two passengers reported no injuries; however, two passengers received serious injuries. The local flight originated at 0620.

According to the pilot's report, during the landing, the balloon impacted the ground hard and tipped over. Two passengers from one side of the balloon fell on top of two passengers on the other side of the balloon. One passenger received a fractured rib and the other passenger received a broken ankle.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N410LB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N410LB-2023-01-19), registration cancelled 2023-01-19, S/N 5190 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Lindstrand Balloons 120A
- Registry model: [Lindstrand Balloons 120A](https://openairdocs.org/model/lindstrand-balloons-120a) (registry code 5180026) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: 5190
- Airframe hours: 197.2
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Rainbow Riders
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 14, 2004, 36 hours before
- Departed: Albuquerque, NM

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; injuries: none; commercial; last flight review August 22, 2003; flight hours: 358 total, 16 in this make and model, 358 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 13,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observed at: ABQ

## 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 20040711015149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040711015149A), Jul 11, 2004: Lbl 120ALBL, Rio Rancho, NM. (-23) On July 11, 2004, at 0715 MST, a lindstrand balloon 120A, N410LB, registered to rainbow ryders inc., made a hard landing in gusting winds while landing…

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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