# NTSB DEN88LA200: Thunder and Colt AX8-90, N90EH, Las Cruces, NM, September 4, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 4, 1988, 08:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Las Cruces, NM
- Coordinates: 32.289833, -106.749191 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2898&lon=-106.7492&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 3 minor, 2 uninjured; on the ground: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report September 11, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17539
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN88LA200
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17539/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN88LA200

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water collision with object, landing
  - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - clearance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE COMMERCIAL BALLOON PLT WAS PARTICIPATING IN A BALLOON RALLY. DURING LANDING, THE PLT NOTICED THE BALLOON WAS DRIFTING TOWARD POWER LINES. HE ELECTED TO OPEN THE DEFLATION VALVE AT 30 FT AGL, TO ATTEMPT TO LAND SHORT OF THE LINES. THE BALLOON TOUCHED DOWN 50 FT FROM THE LINES AND CONTINUED TO BE DRAGGED TOWARD THEM. THE BASKET CAME TO REST 30 FT FROM THE LINES, AND AS THE PASSENGERS DEPARTED THE BASKET, THE ENVELOPE CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE POWER LINES. THE PYROMETER CABLE CARRIED CURRENT DOWN TO THE BASKET INJURING ONE PASSENGER AND THE GROUND CREWMAN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N90EH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N90EH-1995-04-29), registration cancelled 1995-04-29, S/N 690 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Thunder and Colt AX8-90
- Registry model: [Thunder Balloons AX8-90](https://openairdocs.org/model/thunder-balloons-ax8-90) (registry code 8970111) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: 690
- Airframe hours: 187
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: James G. Curran
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 26, 1988, 2 hours before
- Departed: NONE
- Destination: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; commercial; flight hours: 548 total, 5 in this make and model, 540 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 4 knots, gusting 7
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F

## 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 19880904039659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880904039659A), Sep 4, 1988: Thundr AX890, Las Cruces, NM, Substantial damage. Reported out of fuel. Made a hard landing. Balloon dragged into powerlines. Powerline current injured 3 persons.

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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