# NTSB DEN08LA007: Aerostar RX 8, N5315M, Albuquerque, NM, October 9, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 9, 2007, 09:20 local (15:20 UTC) - Place: Albuquerque, NM - Coordinates: 35.216667, -107.25 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2167&lon=-107.2500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 31, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 66908 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN08LA007 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66908/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08LA007 ## Probable cause The pilot's inability to maintain aircraft control due to high winds, resulting in the aircraft coming in contact with an arroyo and a wall in a residential area. ## 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) - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment - object - wall/barricade ## Analysis The balloon was participating in the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. The pilot said she flew between 200 and 400 feet agl (above ground level) for the first 15 minutes, then flew between 1,000 and 1,500 feet for about an hour. She said low level winds were from the south, and she flew "far enough north to have open landing areas to the south." She then descended to 200 feet and flew south. The wind speed was between 5 and 10 knots. She selected a "short open area" but there was a fence and the winds were "too fast" to land. "At 100 feet agl, had false heavy" (sic) and wind velocity had increased 15 to 20 knots. The balloon landed on the north side of 100 acres of desert. bounced, and was dragged 150 to 200 feet. The pilot noted that "at the time of launch, the winds were calm but that condition changed unexpectedly. I took the best landing site available at the time." Beyond that point was a congested housing area, a mesa, and a national park. The latter had an uneven lava bed with ravines, trees, and boulders and probably high wind velocities. The pilot told the police department that she had flown south, then west. On approach to the selected landing spot, a gust of wind caused the balloon to drift in the wrong direction and it struck a wall in a residential area. The police report indicated the pilot had fractured her pelvic bone. ## Factual narrative On October 9, 2007, approximately 0920 mountain daylight time, an Aerostar RX 8, N5315M, registered to and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it struck an arroyo while landing at Albuquerque, 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, but her two passengers escaped injury. The local flight originated approximately 0800 from Albuquerque. The balloon was participating in the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. According to the pilot's accident report, the balloon flew between 200 and 400 feet agl (above ground level) for the first 15 minutes, then flew between 1,000 and 1,500 feet for about an hour. She said low level winds were from the south, and she flew "far enough north to have open landing areas to the south." She then descended to 200 feet and flew south. The wind speed was between 5 and 10 knots. She selected a "short open area" north of the Rio Rancho High School, but there was a fence and the winds were "too fast" to land. "At 100 feet agl, had false heavy" (sic) and wind velocity had increased 15 to 20 knots. The balloon landed on the north side of 100 acres of desert. bounced, and was dragged 150 to 200 feet. The pilot noted that "at the time of launch, the winds were calm but that condition changed unexpectedly. I took the best landing site available at the time." Beyond that point was a congested housing area and the West Mesa and Petroglyh National Park. The latter had an uneven lava bed with ravines, trees, and boulders and probably high wind velocities. According to the Albuquerque Police Department report, the pilot said the balloon had flown south, then west. On approach to the selected landing spot near Loma Vista Road, a gust of wind caused the balloon to drift in the wrong direction and it struck a wall in a residential area. The report indicated the pilot had fractured her pelvic bone. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5315M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5315M), registered now, S/N RX8-3355, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aerostar RX 8 - Registry model: [Aerostar International RX 8](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-international-rx-8) (registry code 7487008) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: RX8-3355 - Airframe hours: 175 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Denise Despres - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2007 - Departed: NONE, Albuquerque, NM - Destination: NONE, Albuquerque, NM ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: minor; commercial; last flight review April 1, 2006; flight hours: 741 total, 640 in this make and model, 741 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.38 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 20071009022469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20071009022469A), Oct 9, 2007: Arostr RX8, Rio Rancho, NM, Minor damage. (-23) On October 9, 2007, N5315M, an aero star industries model RX-8 balloon, serial number RX8-3355, made a hard landing in a gulley near boadmoor and high… ## Other investigations on N5315M (1) 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. - [NTSB WPR26LA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA021), Oct 6, 2025: Aerostar International RX 8 (N5315M), Albuquerque, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a power line during a descent for landing. 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.