# NTSB DEN99LA010: Aerostar RXS8, N9105Z, Albuquerque, NM, October 10, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 10, 1998, 08:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Albuquerque, NM - Coordinates: 35.060485, -106.619148 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0605&lon=-106.6191&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 19, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45112 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN99LA010 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45112/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99LA010 ## Probable cause The high wind condition and the pilot's subsequent intentional hard touchdown. A factor was the small landing area that was available to the pilot. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - high wind (cause) - terrain condition - congested/confined area (contributing factor) - touchdown - intentional, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis According to the pilot, the wind was 2 to 3 knots at the time of launch. As she prepared to land, the wind had increased to 12 to 15 knots. The pilot stated that 'the landing sites in the direction we were heading were small, so I started briefing my passengers about landing.' She further instructed her passengers that, because of the small landing sites available, 'they might need to land with the top out and the propane off.' After clearing several utility lines and trees, the pilot directed a passenger to pull the top out of the balloon and she turned off the propane fuel. The pilot stated that they 'hit the ground firmly and stopped in 20 feet, there was no bounce.' One passenger dislocated her ankle and broke her leg upon impact. The balloon was not damaged. ## Factual narrative On October 10, 1998, approximately 0830 mountain daylight time, an Aerostar RXS8 balloon, N9105Z, was not damaged during a landing near the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Park, Albuquerque, New Mexico. The commercial pilot and one passenger were not injured; however, one passenger was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated 1 hour prior to the accident. According to the pilot, the wind was 2 to 3 knots at the time of launch. As she prepared to land, the wind had increased to 12 to 15 knots. The pilot stated that "the landing sites in the direction we were heading were small, so I started briefing my passengers about landing." She further instructed her passengers that, because of the small landing sites available, "they might need to land with the top out and the propane off." After clearing several utility lines and trees, the pilot directed a passenger to pull the top out of the balloon and she turned off the propane fuel. The pilot stated that they "hit the ground firmly and stopped in 20 feet, there was no bounce." One passenger dislocated her ankle and broke her leg upon impact. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9105Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9105Z-2006-06-07), registration cancelled 2006-06-07, S/N RXS8-3024, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aerostar RXS8 - Registry model: [Aerostar International RXS-8](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-international-rxs-8) (registry code 7487009) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: RXS8-3024 - Airframe hours: 170 - Engines: unknown - Damage: No damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Mary E. Moore - Registered owner: Moore Family Trust - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 13, 1998, 33 hours before - Departed: ABQ, NM ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; commercial; medical: unknown; flight hours: 413 total, 67 in this make and model, 399 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 7 knots ## 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 19981010036789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981010036789A), Oct 10, 1998: Arostr RX8, Albuquerque, NM. (.19) On October 10, 1998, approximately 1000 mountain daylight time, an Aerostar RXS8 balloon, N9105Z, was not damaged during landing near Albuquerque fiesta… ## Other investigations on N9105Z (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 DEN00LA015](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA015), Nov 6, 1999: Aerostar RXS-8 (N9105Z), Artesia, NM, no damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions. 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.