# NTSB DEN06CA069: Aerostar International RX 8, N7142S, Albuquerque, NM, April 22, 2006

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 22, 2006, 08:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place: Albuquerque, NM
- Coordinates: 35.204166, -106.577774
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2042&lon=-106.5778&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 29, 2006
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 63584
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN06CA069
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63584/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN06CA069

## Probable cause

the pilot's inability to maintain a proper descent rate due to the high winds, resulting in a hard landing. A contributing factor was the high wind conditions.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - proper descent rate - not possible, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)

## Analysis

According to the pilot and the passengers, the flight was uneventful. The pilot stated that he elected to perform a "high wind landing." The basket tipped over during the landing and the passenger stated that she lost her balance, resulting in serious injury to her ankle. There was no damage to the balloon and no further injuries reported by the pilot or remaining passenger. The pilot reported the winds as 010 degrees at 7 knots. The pilot reported no anomalies with the balloon's systems.

## Factual narrative

According to the pilot and passengers, the flight was uneventful. The pilot stated that he elected to perform a "high wind landing." The basket tipped over during the landing and the passenger stated that she  lost her balance, resulting in serious injury to her ankle. There was no damage to the balloon and no further injuries reported by the pilot or the other passenger. The pilot reported the winds as 010 degrees at 7 knots. The pilot reported no anomalies with the balloon's systems.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7142S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7142S), registered now, S/N RX8-3238, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Aerostar International RX 8
- Registry model: [Aerostar International RX 8](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-international-rx-8) (registry code 7487008) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: RX8 - 3238
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 1, 2005
- Departed: Albuquerque, NM
- Destination: Albuquerque, NM

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; private; last flight review May 1, 2005; flight hours: 84 total, 84 in this make and model, 69 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 14 °F
- Altimeter: 30.05 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 20060422005329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060422005329A), Apr 22, 2006: Arostr RX8, Albuquerque, NM. (-23) During landing, passenger [privacy data omitted] lost her balance when basket tipped and fell on pilot. Medical determination indicated a sprained ankle.…

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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