# NTSB FTW81DQD27: Thunder BLN AX7-65, N5589T, Las Cruces, NM, June 7, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: June 7, 1981
- Place: Las Cruces, NM · LAS CRUCES, NM
- Location: 32.3123° N, 106.7783° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Las Cruces, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.3123&lon=-106.7783&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126071
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW81DQD27
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81DQD27

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0972   81/6/7    LAS CRUCES,NM       THUNDER BLN AX7-65  CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 55, 43
        TIME - 0830                    N5589T              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LAS CRUCES,NM               LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               LANDING: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      80
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          200                                                       5
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- ENCTRD A GUST OF WND THAT CAUGHT THE PARTIALLY DEFLATED BLN & BLEW IT INTO PWR LNS.WND GSTG 10KTS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5589T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5589T), registered now, S/N 318 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: THUNDER BLN AX7-65
- Registry model: [Thunder Balloons AX7-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/thunder-balloons-ax7-65) (registry code 8970105) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Engines: none
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19810607035809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810607035809A), Jun 7, 1981: Thundr AX765, Las Cruces, NM, Substantial damage. Wind gust dragged balloon into high voltage lines after touchdown. Operaton lacked ground crew and rip panel.

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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