# NTSB DEN99LA003: Cameron N-120, N1607G, Albuquerque, NM, October 4, 1998

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 4, 1998, 08:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Albuquerque, NM
- Coordinates: 35.060184, -106.620285 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0602&lon=-106.6203&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 3 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 19, 1999
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 45110
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN99LA003
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45110/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99LA003

## Probable cause

The balloon's encounter with unforecasted wind shear and the subsequent inadvertent collision with terrain.  A factor was the pilot's inability to control the balloon's descent.

## Sequence of events

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

- Altitude deviation,uncontrolled, cruise
  - weather condition - windshear (cause)
  - aircraft control - not possible, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - touchdown - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The pilot and his passengers went for a short ride at Albuquerque's Balloon Fiesta when he encountered wind shear.  The pilot and a pilot rated passenger executed a burn to control the descent.  The burn was unsuccessful.  The balloon made a hard landing, and one passenger broke her leg.  The balloon was not damaged in the landing, although the basket did tip over while the pilot was attempting to deflate the balloon.

## Factual narrative

On October 4, 1998, approximately 0830 mountain daylight time, a Cameron N-120 balloon, N1607G, was not damaged when it collided with terrain near Albuquerque, New Mexico.  The commercial pilot was not injured; however, three passengers received minor injuries and one passenger received serious injuries.  The balloon was being operated by the owner under Title 14 CFR Part 91.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight which originated approximately 30 minutes before the accident.  No flight plan had been filed.

According to the pilot's accident report, he and his passengers went for a short ride at Albuquerque's Balloon Fiesta when he encountered  wind shear.  The pilot and a pilot rated passenger executed a burn to control the descent.  The burn was unsuccessful.  The balloon made a hard landing and one passenger broke her leg.  The balloon was not damaged in the landing, although the basket did tip over while the pilot was attempting to deflate the balloon.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1607G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1607G-2015-05-18), registration cancelled 2015-05-18, S/N 5930, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cameron N-120
- Registry model: [Cameron Balloons U S N 120](https://openairdocs.org/model/cameron-balloons-u-s-n-120) (registry code 1880228) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: 5930
- Airframe hours: 271
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Thomas W. Gough
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 7, 1998, 48 hours before
- Departed: ABQ, NM

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown; flight hours: 1,850 total, 296 in this make and model, 1,785 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 20° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19981004038919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981004038919A), Oct 4, 1998: Camron N120, Albuquerque, NM. (.4)On October 4, 1998, approximately 0830 mountain daylight time, a cameron N-120 balloon, N1607G, was not damaged when it collided with terrain near…

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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