# NTSB DEN05LA004: Worner Balloon Works NL-1000, Chama, NM, October 3, 2004

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 3, 2004, 11:20 local (17:20 UTC)
- Place: Chama, NM
- Coordinates: 36.893611, -106.488334
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8936&lon=-106.4883&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report January 31, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 60287
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN05LA004
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60287/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN05LA004

## Probable cause

the lightning strike and subsequent failure of the balloon's envelope, resulting in an uncontrolled descent and impact with terrain.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - lightning strike (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - aircraft control - not possible, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

According to the pilot, while participating in an endurance competition, he heard a "loud" bang and saw a "flash." He then noticed a large "L" shaped tear in the balloon's envelope as the balloon began to descend "rapidly." The balloon impacted mountainous terrain at an elevation of 8,000 feet. The pilot and passenger each sustained a broken ankle.

## Factual narrative

On October 3, 2004, at approximately 1120 mountain daylight time, a Worner Balloon Works NL-1000 helium-filled gas balloon, German registration DOYES, piloted by a private pilot, was destroyed when it was struck by lightning while in cruise flight at 12,000 feet msl in the vicinity of Chama, New Mexico. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The cross-country flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and passenger received serious injuries. The flight originated at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Park, Albuquerque, New Mexico, on October 2, 2004, at approximately 2020.

According to the pilot, they were participating in the 2004 Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta's Endurance Competition. The pilot stated that, while en route over the Chama area, he heard a "loud" bang and saw a "flash." He then noticed a large "L" shaped tear in the balloon's envelope as the balloon began to descend "rapidly." The balloon impacted mountainous terrain at an elevation of 8,000 feet, approximately 1/2 mile east of Chama. The pilot and passenger each sustained a broken ankle. The lightning strike and ground impact forces destroyed the balloon.

The pilot did not provide a Pilot Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB form 6120.1/2) for this accident report.

## Aircraft

- Registration: DOYES (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Worner Balloon Works NL-1000
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: 1064
- Airframe hours: 250
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: In-Flight
- Flight: Air race/show, Part 91
- Registered owner: Bruce Wade Hale
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: Albuquerque, NM
- Destination: Albuquerque, NM

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; injuries: serious; private; last flight review September 12, 2004; flight hours: 1,200 total, 301 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: 310° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.40 inHg
- Observed at: KSKX, 47 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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