# NTSB FTW82FQA02: Barnes AX-7, N40708, Albuquerque, NM, October 8, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: October 8, 1981
- Place: Albuquerque, NM · ALBUQUERQUE, NM
- Location: 35.0845° N, 106.6511° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Albuquerque, NM, within about 8 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0845&lon=-106.6511&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor, 5 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 28, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 123259
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW82FQA02
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW82FQA02

## NTSB brief (aircraft 2)

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2545   81/10/8   ALBUQUERQUE,NM      RAVEN S-55A         CR-  0  0  1  MISCELLANEOUS             PRIVATE, AGE 31, 62 TOTAL
        TIME - 0820                    N2792R              PX-  0  0  2  AIR SHOW/RACING           HOURS, UNK/NR IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-NONE         OT-  0  0  4                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - CUTTER
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ALBUQUERQUE,NM              LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH AIRCRAFT: BOTH IN FLIGHT                  TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MISCELLANEOUS-PERSONNEL: OTHER
         SPECIAL DATA
          SEGMENTS OF AVIATION INVOLVED - SMALL US GEN.AV.-SMALL US GEN.AV.
          CONTROLLING AGENCY - LOCAL CONTROL                       RADAR CTL/SURVEILLANCE - NOT UNDER RADAR CONTACT
          TRAFFIC ADVISORY ISSUED - NONE                           CONTROLLED/UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT - UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT
          CONTROL ZONE/AREA - NO                                   VERTICAL COLLISION ANGLE-DEGREES -  90
          EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN - YES                               ANTI-COLLISION LIGHTS - NOT INSTALLED
        REMARKS- STRUCK FROM BELOW BY OTHER BALLOON.APRX 200 BALL00NS AT LAUNCH SITE.
```

## NTSB brief (aircraft 1)

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2545   81/10/8   ALBUQUERQUE,NM      BARNES AX-7         CR-  0  0  1  MISCELLANEOUS             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 0820                    N40708              PX-  0  0  3  AIR SHOW/RACING           AGE UNK/NR, 631 TOTAL
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  3                            HOURS, 500 IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - CUTTER FIELD
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ALBUQUERQUE,NM              LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH AIRCRAFT: BOTH IN FLIGHT                  TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MISCELLANEOUS-PERSONNEL: OTHER
         SPECIAL DATA
          SEGMENTS OF AVIATION INVOLVED - SMALL US GEN.AV.-SMALL US GEN.AV.
          CONTROLLING AGENCY - LOCAL CONTROL                       RADAR CTL/SURVEILLANCE - NOT UNDER RADAR CONTACT
          TRAFFIC ADVISORY ISSUED - NONE                           CONTROLLED/UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT - UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT
          CONTROL ZONE/AREA - NO                                   EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN - NO
          ANTI-COLLISION LIGHTS - NOT INSTALLED
        REMARKS- BALLOONS LAUNCHED INDIVIDUALLY THRU RADIO CONTACT WITH COMMAND CENTER.VSBY RESTRICTED,OTR BALLOONS
```

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: N40708 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BARNES AX-7
- Category: Balloon
- Engines: none
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Cutter Field

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N2792R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2792R-1991-06-20), registration cancelled 1991-06-20, S/N S55A427 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: RAVEN S-55A
- Registry model: [Raven S55A](https://openairdocs.org/model/raven-s55a) (registry code 7480402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Engines: none
- Damage: No damage
- Airport: Cutter

## FAA reports on this event (2)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19811008090231A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19811008090231A), Oct 8, 1981: Balwks FIREFLY7, Albuquerque, NM, Substantial damage. Unaware of other balloon. Top of balloon snagged on others gondola. Broke free. Balloon torn, landed hard.
- [Accident 19811008090232A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19811008090232A), Oct 8, 1981: Raven S55A, Albuquerque, NM. Collision course, tried to outclimb other balloon. Gondola snagged in other ballons top, broke free, landed safely.

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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