# NTSB DEN90FA176: Cameron O-84, N74000, Taos, NM, August 26, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 26, 1990, 09:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place: Taos, NM
- Coordinates: 36.379764, -105.569778 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3798&lon=-105.5698&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 2, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17845
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN90FA176
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17845/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN90FA176

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER DECISION TO ATTEMPT A GO-AROUND. A FACTOR WAS THE UNFAVORABLE WIND ENCOUNTERED LATE IN THE ATTEMPTED LANDING.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, landing - aborted
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - go-around - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - wire,transmission
  - clearance - not possible (cause)
- In flight collision with object, go-around (vfr)
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE BALLOON WAS APPROACHING AN OPEN FIELD FOR LANDING AFTER AN UNEVENTFUL SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT. THE PILOT SAID THE WINDS WERE LIGHT AND THE BALLOON'S RATE OF DESCENT WAS SUFFICIENT TO CLEAR A POWERLINE, WHICH IT DID. APPROXIMATELY 5-10 FEET AGL, THE PILOT NOTICED THE WIND HAD SHIFTED AND WAS MOVING THE BALLOON TOWARDS THE POWERLINE, WHICH AT THAT TIME WAS ABOUT 100 FEET AWAY. THE PILOT FIRED BOTH PROPANE BURNERS IN AN ATTEMPT TO GO-AROUND. THE BALLOON BEGAN CLIMBING BUT CONTACTED THE POWERLINE. ONE PASSENGER WAS ELECTROCUTED AND FELL OUT OF THE BASKET. THE PILOT LANDED THE BALLOON IN AN ADJOINING FIELD.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N74000](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N74000-2013-09-19), registration cancelled 2013-09-19, S/N 5094 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cameron O-84
- Registry model: [Cameron Balloons US O-84](https://openairdocs.org/model/cameron-balloons-us-o-84) (registry code 1880210) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: 5094
- Airframe hours: 205
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Mountain Magic, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 15, 1990, 9 hours before
- Departed: TAOS, NM

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; toxicology performed; flight hours: 7,000 total, 125 in this make and model, 6,700 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SAF, 54 nm away

## 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 19900826035939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900826035939A), Aug 26, 1990: Camron O84, Taos, NM, Minor damage, 1 fatal. Windshift at 10 feet AGL. Elected to abort. Hit powerline. Electrocuted passenger whose body fell 30 feet.

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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