- Date
- October 5, 2003, 07:23 local (13:23 UTC)
- Place
- Albuquerque, NM
- Injuries
- 2 serious, 3 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- No damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N994AFLindstrand Balloons LBL
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 30, 2004
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20031005027449A
- Case key
- 58135
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the inadequate in-flight planning/decision by the pilot. Contributing factors include the inadvertent activation of the deflation line by the pilot and the retaining wall.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
According to the passengers on board, the balloon was climbing when the pilot pulled the deflation line, releasing a flap at the top of the balloon. The balloon then descended rapidly striking terrain, bouncing, and then colliding with a retaining wall. The passengers were thrown to the floor of the balloon, seriously injuring two passengers. The pilot remained on his feet, re-inflated the balloon and continued the flight for an additional 20 to 30 minutes. Two passengers asked the pilot, after the collision, what had happened. The pilot replied, "He had pulled the wrong chord."
Factual narrative
On October 5, 2003, at 0723 mountain daylight time, a Lindstrand Balloons LBL, N994AF, operated by Enchanted Winds Balloon Company, collided with a cement wall after departing Albuquerque City Park, Albuquerque, New Mexico. The commercial certificated instructor pilot was not injured; however, two passengers received serious injuries and three passengers sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan had been filed for the local flight being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at approximately 0715 and landed at approximately 0755.
According to the pilot, during climb out the balloon encountered a downdraft. The pilot stated that he attempted to regain control of the balloon, but was unable before it impacted a cement wall. The balloon envelope received minor burn damage and two passengers were seriously injured.
According to the passengers, the balloon was climbing when the pilot pulled the deflation line that released a flap at the top of the balloon. The balloon then descended rapidly striking terrain, bouncing, and then colliding with the retaining wall. The passengers were thrown to the floor of the balloon, but the pilot remained on his feet, re-inflated the balloon, and continued the flight for an additional 20 to 30 minutes.
Two passengers asked the pilot, after the collision, what had happened. The pilot replied, "He had pulled the wrong chord."
The METAR (routine aviation weather) report taken at 0756: winds, 360 degrees at 8 knots; temperature 51 degrees F; dew point 45 degrees
One passenger sustained a broken ankle and another passenger sustained a broken hip. All five passengers received abrasions and bruises.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N994AF
- Reported as
- Lindstrand Balloons LBL
- Category
- Balloon
- Serial number
- 104
- Airframe hours
- 300
- Damage
- No damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Enchanted Winds Balloon Company
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 1, 2003
- Departed
- NONE · Albuquerque, NM
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 74
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Last flight review
- May 17, 2002
- Flight hours
- 3,700 total · 300 in this make and model · 3,700 as pilot in command · 22 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 52 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.18 inHg
- Observed at
- ABQ, 6 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.