# NTSB DEN08LA006: Cameron Balloons Z-105, N1024B, Rio Rancho, NM, October 9, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 9, 2007, 08:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Rio Rancho, NM - Coordinates: 35.27861, -106.625831 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2786&lon=-106.6258&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 3 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 31, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 66907 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN08LA006 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66907/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08LA006 ## Probable cause the pilot's inability to maintain aircraft control due to high winds resulting in the aircraft coming in contact with two houses. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, landing - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor) - In flight collision with object, landing - aircraft control - not possible, pilot in command (cause) - object - residence ## Analysis The pilot was attempting to land in a large, open field when a gust of wind pushed the balloon down and sideways towards a house. The pilot activated both burners in an attempt to avoid hitting it. The balloon struck the house's parapet wall then the ground, ejecting two passengers. The balloon lifted back into the air, due to the weight loss. The pilot opened the emergency vent and the balloon hit the ground again, ejecting a third passenger. The winds were gusting to 35 mph or greater. The balloon traveled across a street and struck a second house, damaging its swamp cooler. The balloon came to rest on its side in the yard of the second house. ## Factual narrative On October 9, 2007, approximately 0830 mountain daylight time, a Cameron Z-105, N1024B, registered to and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it struck two houses and an arroyo while landing in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot was seriously injured, three passengers received minor injuries, and one passenger escaped injury. The local flight originated approximately 0715 from Albuquerque. The balloon was participating in the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. According to the pilot, the passengers were given a landing briefing. She said the winds were calm on the surface and 8 mph or less during the 1-1/2 hour flight. She was attempting to land in a "very large open field" near Kim Street, about 1/2-mile west of Highway 528, in Rio Rancho. "An unexpected massive gust of wind pushed me down and sideways towards a house," she wrote. She activated both burners in an attempt to avoid hitting the house. The balloon struck the house's parapet wall, then hit the ground and two passengers were ejected. The balloon lifted back into the air, due to the weight loss, and the pilot opened the emergency vent. The balloon hit the ground again, ejecting a third passenger. The winds "were still very severe --- gusting to 35 mph or greater," the pilot wrote. The balloon traveled across a street and struck a second house, damaging its swamp cooler. The balloon came to rest on its side in the yard of the second house. A fourth passenger and the pilot crawled out, and the latter lost consciousness. The pilot had sustained multiple fractures, and was hospitalized for 6 days. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1024B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1024B), registered now, S/N 6371, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cameron Balloons Z-105 - Registry model: [Cameron Balloons US Z-105](https://openairdocs.org/model/cameron-balloons-us-z-105) (registry code 1880401) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 6371 - Airframe hours: 123 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Roger L. & Kelly N. Baldwin - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2007 - Departed: NONE, Albuquerque, NM - Destination: NONE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: serious; private; last flight review March 1, 2006; flight hours: 50 total, 20 in this make and model, 25 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.38 inHg - Observed at: ABQ, 15 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.