# NTSB FTW83FA001: Thunder Balloons AX9-140, N9606A, Albuquerque, NM, October 3, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 3, 1982, 09:47 local (15:47 UTC)
- Place: Albuquerque, NM
- Coordinates: 35.18962, -106.690132 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1896&lon=-106.6901&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal, 3 serious, 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 3, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 69725
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW83FA001
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69725/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW83FA001

## Sequence of events

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

- Fire, landing - flare/touchdown
  - balloon equipment,burner system - improper (cause)
  - maintenance,major alteration - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - fuel system,line - improper (cause)
  - fuel system,line - leak (cause)
  - fuel system,line fitting - improper (cause)
  - fuel system,line fitting - leak (cause)
  - fuel system - fire (cause)
- Miscellaneous/other, other
  - balloon equipment,envelope - fire
  - balloon equipment,basket - fire
- Explosion, other
  - fuel system,tank - exploded

## Analysis

AFTER WHAT WAS DESCRIBED AS A NORMAL LANDING LIQUID PROPANE BEGAN ESCAPING. THE PROPANE VAPORIZED & WAS IGNITED ENGULFING THE GONDOLA IN FLAMES. FOUR PAX EXITED THE GONDOLA WHILE IT WAS STILL ON THE GROUND & THE LAST SURVIVOR EXITEDAT ABOUT 25 FT AS THE BALLOON BEGAN RISING. THE REMAINING 4 PAX BEGAN JUMPING OR FALLING FROM THE GONDOLA AT ABOUT 100 FT WITH THE LAST EXITING AT AN ESTIMATED 600 FT AGL. THE BALLOON CONTINUED TO RISE & AT ABOUT 1,000 FT TWO PROPANE TANKS EXPLODED. THE OWNER/PILOT HAD INSTALLED 6 PROPANE CYLINDERS. A PORTION OF ONE TEE FITTING WAS DETERMINED TO BE BRASS, & ACCORDING TO A METALLURGICAL REPORT THE HOSES USED TO MANIFOLD THE PROPANE CYLINDERS WERE DETERMINED TO BE RUBBER COVERED BY A WOVEN FABRIC. ONLY CADIUM PLATED STEEL FITTINGS & WIRE MESH REINFORCED HOSES WERE RECOMMENDED BY THUNDER BALLOONS,LTD. & AT NO TIME WOULD BRASS FITTINGS & NON-WIRE MESH HOSES BE RECOMMENDED BY THEM.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N9606A (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Thunder Balloons, Ltd. AX9-140
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: 317
- Airframe hours: 60
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: Both
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Joseph A. Gonzales
- Registered owner: Thunder Pacific
- Departed: ALBUQUERQUE, NM
- Destination: ALBUQUERQUE, NM

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; private; medical: unknown; flight hours: 65 total, 45 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Temperature: 154 °F

## 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 19821003052449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19821003052449A), Oct 3, 1982: Thundr AX9140S2, Albuquerque, NM, Substantial damage, 4 fatal. During landing, liquid propane began leaking causing fire in balloon. When balloon ascended passengers jumped.

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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