# NTSB FTW02LA011: Cameron 105, N9524U, Albuquerque, NM, October 6, 2001

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 6, 2001, 09:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place: Albuquerque, NM
- Coordinates: 35.04, -106.609169
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0400&lon=-106.6092&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 29, 2003
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 53636
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA011
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53636/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA011

## Probable cause

Ther pilot's delay to compensate for changing weather conditions in-flight.  Contributing factors were the high winds and an inaccurate weather forcast.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing
  - weather evaluation - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather forecast - inaccurate, other person (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)

## Analysis

The balloon pilot was provided a detailed weather briefing prior to the flight which called for light and variable winds.  Soon after departure, the winds increased from 4-6 knots to 6-8 knots, gusting to 15 knots.  The pilot flew around waiting for winds to subside to no avail.  The pilot was forced to land with the prevailing high winds when he started getting low on fuel.

## Factual narrative

On October 6, 2001, approximately 0930 mountain daylight time, a Cameron 105 hot-air balloon, N9524U, registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained minor damage during a hard landing while the pilot was attempting a high wind landing near Albuquerque, New Mexico.  The private pilot was not injured while 2 of his passengers sustained serious injuries and one was uninjured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.  The local flight originated from Albuquerque at 0800.

The pilot was provided a detailed weather briefing at 0615.  The forecast for the remaining of the morning called for light and variable winds.  Soon after departure, the winds increased from 4-6 knots to 6-8 knots, gusting to 15 knots.  The pilot flew around waiting for winds to subside to no avail.  The pilot was forced to land with the prevailing high winds when he started getting low on fuel.

During the high wind landing, two of the 3 passengers sustained serious injuries.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9524U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9524U-2017-07-07), registration cancelled 2017-07-07, S/N 5611, built 1989 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cameron 105
- Registry model: [Cameron Balloons US N-105](https://openairdocs.org/model/cameron-balloons-us-n-105) (registry code 1880217) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: 5611
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Donald L. Rose
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: ABQ, Albuquerque, NM
- Destination: ABQ, Albuquerque, NM

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; last flight review February 28, 2000; flight hours: 214 total, 214 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 8 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 30.28 inHg
- Observed at: ABQ

## 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 20011006030119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011006030119A), Oct 6, 2001: Camron N105, Albuquerque, NM, No damage. (.19) On October 6, 2001, approximately 0930 mountain daylight time, a cameron 105 balloon, N9524U, registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained minor…

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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