# NTSB FTW97LA011: Avian Balloon Skyhawk, N47AV, Albuquerque, NM, October 5, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 5, 1996, 06:45 local (12:45 UTC)
- Place: 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: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured; on the ground: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report May 23, 1997
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 20087
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA011
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20087/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA011

## Probable cause

The ground crew member's failure keep clear from the gondola during take off. A factor was the pilot's failure to insure crew coordination during take off.

## Sequence of events

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

- Miscellaneous/other, takeoff
  - crew/group coordination - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - improper decision, ground personnel (cause)

## Analysis

According to the pilot, the balloon was on a 'dawn patrol' demonstration. The crew members were holding to the gondola just prior to breaking ground. As the balloon became airborne, a crew member's hand became caught on one of the rope handles normally used by passengers. She was lifted up to about 20 feet AGL. Someone on the ground said, 'jump,' and she released the handle. Before impacting the ground, she contacted the side of another balloon that was being inflated. The pilot stated that he was not aware that the crew member was in distress.

## Factual narrative

On October 5, 1996, at 0645 mountain daylight time, a ground crew member for an Avian Balloon Skyhawk, N47AV, sustained serious injuries while tethering the balloon during take off.  The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured and the balloon was not damaged.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight near Albuquerque, New Mexico.  A flight plan was not filed.

According to the pilot, the balloon was on a "dawn patrol" demonstration.  The crew members were holding to the gondola just prior to breaking ground.  As the balloon became airborne, a crew member's hand became caught on one of the rope handles normally used by passengers.  She was lifted up to about 20 feet AGL.  Someone on the ground said, "jump," and she released the handle.  Before impacting the ground, she contacted the side of another balloon that was being inflated.

The pilot stated that he was not aware that the crew member was in distress.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N47AV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N47AV-2023-02-04), registration cancelled 2023-02-04, S/N 47, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Avian Balloon SKYHAWK
- Registry model: [Avian Balloon SKYHAWK](https://openairdocs.org/model/avian-balloon-skyhawk) (registry code 0900104) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: 47
- Airframe hours: 405
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Howard F. Kennedy
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special flight (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, March 11, 1996, 0 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; commercial; medical: unknown; flight hours: 576 total, 400 in this make and model, 576 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn
- Wind: 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °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 19961005043399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961005043399A), Oct 5, 1996: Avianw SKYHAWK, Albuquerque, NM. Ground crewman injured when balloon lifted. Hand caught in a rope. Lifted 20FT then got loose and fell. (-23) on 10/05/96 at 5:45 am MDT, a ground crewmember…

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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