# NTSB DEN04CA132: Cameron Balloons A-210, N4503V, Albuquerque, NM, August 29, 2004

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 29, 2004, 08:10 local (14:10 UTC)
- Place: Albuquerque, NM
- Coordinates: 35.034442, -106.61
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0344&lon=-106.6100&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 6 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 3, 2004
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Albuquerque Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 60014
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN04CA132
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60014/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04CA132

## Probable cause

the passenger losing her balance during the landing. Contributing to the accident was the increased wind velocity.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, landing
  - miscellaneous, passenger (cause)
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)

## Analysis

According to the pilot, the flight had been uneventful; however, the winds had increased in velocity. The winds according to the pilot, at the time of landing, were between 8 and 9 knots. During the landing, the ground crew grabbed the basket and assisted it down to the ground. One passenger fell forward during the landing, twisting her ankle and breaking it. No other anomalies were noted.

## Factual narrative

On August 29, 2004, at approximately 0810 mountain daylight time, a passenger sustained serious injuries while on board a Cameron Balloons A-210, N4503V. The balloon, piloted by a commercial pilot, was not damaged during landing approximately 7 miles northwest of Albuquerque International Airport, 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 four other passengers reported no injuries. The local flight originated at approximately 0650.

According to the pilot, the flight had been uneventful; however, the winds had increased in velocity. The winds according to the pilot, at the time of landing, were between 8 and 9 knots. During the landing, the ground crew grabbed the basket and assisted it down to the ground. The basket did not hit hard, nor did it tip over. One passenger fell forward during the landing, twisting her ankle and breaking it. No other anomalies were noted.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N4503V (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Cameron Balloons A-210
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: 6363
- Airframe hours: 29.4
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Star Trail, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: June 23, 2004, 29.4 hours before
- Departed: ABQ, Albuquerque, NM
- Destination: ABQ, Albuquerque, NM
- Airport: ABQ, Albuquerque Intl

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; commercial; last flight review April 6, 2004; flight hours: 3,850 total, 584 in this make and model, 3,840 as pilot in command, 53 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 20° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observed at: ABQ, 7 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 20040829023339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040829023339A), Aug 29, 2004: Camron A210, Albuquerque, NM. (-23) On August 29, 2004, at 0800 MDT, a cameron balloons A-210, N4503V, registered to star trail, incorporated, had a hard landing near Albuquerque, new…

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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