# NTSB DEN99FA004: Cameron A-250, N4557W, Albuquerque, NM, October 5, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: October 5, 1998, 09:11 local (15:11 UTC) - Place: Albuquerque, NM - Coordinates: 35.110992, -106.620422 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1110&lon=-106.6204&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 12 serious - Status: Completed, report March 31, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 44151 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN99FA004 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/44151/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=44151 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99FA004 ## Probable cause The pilot not planning his approach to a landing so as to fly over the transmission wires (on the approach edge of the landing field) in level flight or ascending flight, and the pilot not pulling out the rip panel for emanate contact with transmission wires as the owner's manual directs. A factor was the wind shear weather condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, approach - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - windshear (contributing factor) - In flight collision with object, approach - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (cause) - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - terrain condition - open field ## Analysis The balloon was making a landing approach on a 165 degree heading. The pilot said that he thought he was 50 to 60 feet above the oncoming wires when the balloon began to descend. The balloon impacted the wires, and was subsequently extracted from them due to a large heat input just prior to wire impact. The balloon proceeded eastbound and climbed to 600 feet agl. The pilot began a stabilized descent, and the balloon again turned southbound. He selected a landing site which had transmission wires on the approach edge of the field. He began a descending approach over the wires believing that he had approximately 20 feet of clearance. The balloon's descent suddenly increased, and the pilot began heating the envelope. The balloon impacted the second set of wires, and the basket fell to the ground. Balloon training procedures recommended that during a landing over wires, the wires be approached in level, or ascending flight. The balloon's Flight Manual states: 'if contact with electric wires becomes inevitable, rip out the top to ensure that the basket is as close to the ground as possible before contact.' ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On October 5, 1998, at 0911 mountain daylight time, a Cameron A-250 balloon, N4557W, was destroyed following impact with wires during approach to landing at Kirtland Air Force Base, near Albuquerque, New Mexico. The commercial pilot and 11 passengers were seriously injured; however, one passenger was fatally injured. The balloon, named the Wayfinder, was being operated by the pilot under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the across town flight (estimated distance of 9.5 nautical miles [nm]) which originated at approximately 08000. No flight plan had been filed. According to several passengers, they arrived at the launch site, near Coors Drive and Irving Blvd. NW, at approximately 0630, and they were each weighed for the flight. The pilot reported that the fatally injured passenger arrived in a wheel chair (she had recently broken her right ankle). He said that all the passengers were briefed on flight procedures (see attached documents). One of the passengers said that the whole departure operation "appeared well organized." At 0700, the pilot said that he and his ground crew inflated the balloon, but aborted the launch attempt due to excessive wind. The pilot reported that at approximately 0745, the wind subsided, and a second launch was attempted. The balloon lifted off at 0800, and they drifted to the south-southeast. Several passengers reported that the first half of the ride went "smoothly," and soon after takeoff, they even touched down in the river. One passenger reported that the flight "seemed to be very low to the ground;" she said that she could see peoples faces in the cars below. The pilot reported that he intentionally stayed low (radar indicated that they stayed below 5,700 feet mean sea level [msl]) because of much faster wind above. A witness on the ground reported that the balloon was "flying very low across Interstate-25 and he could clearly see the passengers." FAA recorded transmission tapes indicate that the pilot radioed Albuquerque International Airport Air Traffic Control tower at 0844, and reported that he was "five miles south [of the airport] at 5,300 feet." A witness (a pilot of another balloon) on the ground in the Kirtland Air Force Base (KAFB) housing area reported seeing the Wayfinder through the trees, and the balloon's envelope was swaying back and forth. He said that he believed that the balloon had landed. He reported that he was surprised to look back a moment later and saw that the balloon was flying again. The pilot reported that he was traveling towards the first set of wires at approximately 165 degrees at 11 knots, and he believed that he was 50 to 60 feet above them. A witness stated that "the balloon seemed to be just above tree level, maybe 20 feet above the trees, and as I was watching, it dipped down and seemed to hit something." The pilot stated that "the wind was knocked out of the balloon and it began to fall very fast." He fired 2 burners for 10 seconds, and then fired all 3 burners for an additional 5 seconds. He said that he did not rip his top out [for an emergency descent] because he was still over KAFB housing. When he realized that wire contact was imminent, he began turning off the fuel manifold valves (he managed to turn 2 of the 3 valves off). The pilot said that he "heard a large bang," and he thought the stainless steel basket cables had contacted the transmission wires. He then became aware that one of the burners was firing, and he discovered that one of his control lines had become entangled in the blast valve handle. Subsequently, the balloon's Nomex scoop began to burn, and a 5 to 8 foot hole was made in the envelope approximately 4 feet above the envelope throat. Witnesses reported seeing sparking and a burst of flame near the balloon's burner. They said that the balloon slid horizontally along the wires for some distance, and was then pulled upward. The pilot reported that he did a quick examination of the balloon, and he believed that it was airworthy. A witness reported that burnt fabric from the balloon was falling all around him. Another witness said that she could see a hole in the envelope, and she assumed that it (the balloon) was going to come down immediately. The pilot stated that after being released from the wires, the balloon rose very rapidly, and headed eastbound. Several witnesses said that they yelled to the pilot for him to land in the next big field. The pilot said that he did not immediately start venting hot air because he wanted the balloon to stabilize from the large heat input just before the wire contact. He reported checking his passengers, and that everyone was "ok." The pilot reported that his temperature gauge and altimeter (both were electrical digital readouts) were inoperative. He said that as the balloon began to level off, he began to "puff-burn" to ensure a level flight. He then started a controlled step-down descent. He reported that as he descended, the balloon again turned back to the south (approximately 160 to 165 degrees). He stated that he selected a landing spot which had transmission wires on the approach edge of the field, but he believed that he would clear them by "about 20 feet." The pilot said that then they "encountered a rapid low level wind shear, and suddenly the balloon fell like a rock a second time." Several witnesses said that they saw the pilot fire his burners moments before contacting the wire. The pilot said that he fired his burners, and then proceeded to turn off his fuel valves. He stated that the Kevlar envelope cables impacted the lowest wire, and the basket was 15 to 25 feet above the ground. One witness reported that the basket's longest rectangular side was heading due south. A witness reported that "the envelope cables hit the power lines with a good force first, jolting/rocking the basket and then severing those cables." The pilot said "I think the basket rotated 180 degrees and then fell to a 30 to 45 degree angle." A witness reported that the balloon's Kevlar suspension cables impacted the lower transmission line, and the envelope swayed back and forth on the south side of the power lines. The witness further reported that 15 to 20 seconds went by when suddenly the east end of the basket dropped to a 30 to 45 degree angle as the Kevlar cables separated. He said that the "east side of the basket dropped (no one fell out at any time during the accident) and perhaps came back up a little." He said another 20 seconds passed and the basket began to fall in short jerks. Suddenly, he reported, the basket fell to the ground from approximately 15 to 20 feet, landing east end first with one of its longest sides facing south. A witness reported that "I saw a series of ripples run through the envelope, similar to when a gondola touches down hard. Quickly afterward, the envelope catastrophically came apart, the lower parts rising high into the air before collapsing." A video taken of the accident revealed that the envelope inverted itself, allowing smoke filled hot air to be released, before falling back to the ground. A sergeant in the Air Force reported that he acquired a knife from a civilian, and cut some of the remaining envelope cables. The pilot reported that he also cut several envelope cables "to make sure that the basket was isolated from the transmission wires." Rescue personnel began removing the basket's occupants, and tending to their medical needs. PERSONNEL INFORMATION According to FAA records, the pilot received his commercial pilot certificate on September 7, 1994. The pilot reported on the NTSB's Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report Form 6120.1/2 that he had completed his required FAA Part 61 flight review on September 14, 1997, and that he had accumulated 402 hours of flight experience by the time of the accident. He further documented that ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4557W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4557W-1999-04-27), registration cancelled 1999-04-27, S/N 5911 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cameron A-250 - Registry model: [Cameron Balloons US A-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/cameron-balloons-us-a-250) (registry code 1880119) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 5911 - Airframe hours: 362 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Registered owner: Thomas N. Thompson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 1998, 33 hours before - Departed: NONE - Destination: ABQ - Airport: ABQ, Albuquerque International ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; commercial; toxicology performed; flight hours: 402 total, 348 in this make and model, 380 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ABQ, 1 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 19981005028259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981005028259A), Oct 5, 1998: Camron A250, Albuquerque, NM, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Hot air balloon was landing when it struck two powerlines and crashed, the gondola sepatated from the balloon and fell 40 feet. Pilot and 11 pax suffered… ## Docket (21 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 15, 1999, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=44151. 7.6 MB in all. - Supplement S (item 1, .PDF, 76 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40114502&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20S-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40449415&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statements (item 3, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40449416&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Maps and Charts (item 4, .PDF, 632 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40114505&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maps%20and%20Charts-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 5, .PDF, 336 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40114506&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports (item 6, .PDF, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40449417&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports-Redacted.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 7, .PDF, 73 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40449418&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Redacted.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 8, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40449419&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Redacted.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 9, .PDF, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40449420&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Photo #1: The first transmission powerpoles. The balloon was traveling from left to right. Note the distance from the wall to the pole. (item 10, .PDF, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40114511&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20%231%3A%20The%20first%20transmission%20powerpoles.%20The%20balloon%20was%20traveling%20from%20left%20to%20right.%20Note%20the%20distance%20from%20the%20wall%20to%20the%20pole.%20-Master.PDF - Photo #2: The burnt end of N4557W's pyrometer wire. (item 11, .PDF, 90 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40114512&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20%232%3A%20The%20burnt%20end%20of%20N4557W%27s%20pyrometer%20wire.-Master.PDF - Photo #3: A view of N4557W's abraided stainless steel basket suspension cable. The pilot's statement suggests that this occurred during the first wire strike. (item 12, .PDF, 78 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40114513&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20%233%3A%20A%20view%20of%20N4557W%27s%20abraided%20stainless%20steel%20basket%20suspension%20cable.%20The%20pilot%27s%20statement%20suggests%20that%20this%20occurred%20during%20the%20first%20wire%20strike.-Master.PDF - Photo #4: A view of N4557W's left forward corner. Debris found under the first wire indicates that this occurred during the first wire strike. (item 13, .PDF, 100 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40114514&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20%234%3A%20A%20view%20of%20N4557W%27s%20left%20forward%20corner.%20Debris%20found%20under%20the%20first%20wire%20indicates%20that%20this%20occurred%20during%20the%20first%20wire%20strike.-Master.PDF - Photo #5: A view of N4557W's second impending wire strike. Note: over this picture and the next that the balloon is descending towards the wires. Also, note the hole in the envelope just above the scoop. (item 14, .PDF, 76 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40114515&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20%235%3A%20A%20view%20of%20N4557W%27s%20second%20impending%20wire%20strike.%20Note%3A%20over%20this%20picture%20and%20the%20next%20that%20the%20balloon%20is%20descending%20towards%20the%20wires.%20Also,%20note%20the%20hole%20in%20the%20envelope%20just%20above%20the%20scoop.%20-Master.PDF - Photo #6: N4557W just before the second wire strike. Note the hole in the envelope. (item 15, .PDF, 87 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40114516&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20%236%3A%20N4557W%20just%20before%20the%20second%20wire%20strike.%20Note%20the%20hole%20in%20the%20envelope.-Master.PDF - Photo #7: The Wayfinder had impacted the wire and split open, releasing its heated air. The basket is on the ground and the envelope is inverted. Note the color in the blue, red, orange is reversed. (item 16, .PDF, 85 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40114517&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20%237%3A%20The%20Wayfinder%20had%20impacted%20the%20wire%20and%20split%20open,%20releasing%20its%20heated%20air.%20The%20basket%20is%20on%20the%20ground%20and%20the%20envelope%20is%20inverted.%20Note%20the%20color%20in%20the%20blue,%20red,%20orange%20is%20reversed.-Master.PDF - Photo #8: The Wayfinder's envelope is falling to the ground. (item 17, .PDF, 84 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40114518&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20%238%3A%20The%20Wayfinder%27s%20envelope%20is%20falling%20to%20the%20ground.-Master.PDF - Photo #9: The Wayfinder's basket bottom. Note that there is no damage. (item 18, .PDF, 164 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40114519&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20%239%3A%20The%20Wayfinder%27s%20basket%20bottom.%20Note%20that%20there%20is%20no%20damage.%20-Master.PDF - Photo #10: The Wayfinder's basket. Note: four compartments for passengers and one central compartment for the pilot and fuel tanks. (item 19, .PDF, 116 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40114520&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20%2310%3A%20The%20Wayfinder%27s%20basket.%20Note%3A%20four%20compartments%20for%20passengers%20and%20one%20central%20compartment%20for%20the%20pilot%20and%20fuel%20tanks.-Master.PDF - Photo #11: The Wayfinder's envelope was heated by three burners. (item 20, .PDF, 144 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40114521&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20%2311%3A%20The%20Wayfinder%27s%20envelope%20was%20heated%20by%20three%20burners.-Master.PDF - Photo #12: A view of two frayed envelope cables. (item 21, .PDF, 84 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40114522&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20%2312%3A%20A%20view%20of%20two%20frayed%20envelope%20cables.-Master.PDF 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.