# NTSB FTW97LA023: Aerostar RX 8, N3581D, Albuquerque, NM, October 8, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 8, 1996, 09:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Albuquerque, NM - Coordinates: 35.179878, -106.589622 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1799&lon=-106.5896&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 23, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20099 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA023 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20099/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA023 ## Probable cause A sudden increase in wind velocity. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - high wind (cause) - passenger briefing - performed, pilot in command ## Analysis The pilot said that while aloft, surface winds increased to 15 knots, and he briefed his passengers on high wind landing procedures. The balloon touched down and the basket tipped over. One passenger fell against another passenger and fractured his leg. ## Factual narrative On October 8, 1996, approximately 0930 mountain daylight time, an Aerostar International RX 8, N3581D, was not damaged during landing at Albuquerque, New Mexico. One passenger sustained a serious injury, but the commercial pilot and another passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Albuquerque on October 8, approximately 0900. On January 7, 1997, the pilot was contacted by telephone. He stated he had sent a completed accident report to FAA's Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) in Albuquerque. A FSDO spokesman said they had never received a report from the pilot. Another accident report was sent to the pilot. The report was received on February 3, 1997. According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (attached), a passenger braced her foot against a propane tank in preparation for landing. Upon landing, the passenger sustained a fractured bone just above the ankle. The pilot had previously told an FAA inspector (who had been monitoring the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta) that while aloft, surface winds had increased to 15 knots and he briefed his passengers on high wind landing procedures. When the balloon touched down, the basket tipped over and a passenger fell against another passenger, fracturing his leg. The pilot did not include the names of his passengers in his accident report. According to the FAA, however, the pilot and two passengers were aboard the balloon at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3581D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3581D), registered now, S/N RX8-3023, built 1989 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aerostar RX 8 - Registry model: [Aerostar International RX 8](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-international-rx-8) (registry code 7487008) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: RX8-3023 - Airframe hours: 508 - Engines: unknown - Damage: No damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Glenn M. See - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 1996, 10 hours before - Departed: NONE, CORALES, NM ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; commercial; flight hours: 695 total, 450 in this make and model, 22 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 15 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 60 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °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 19961008044049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961008044049A), Oct 8, 1996: Arostr RX8, Albuquerque, NM. High wind landing. Basket tipped over. A passenger fell on the other fracturing his leg. (-23) on 10/08/96 at 9:30 am MDT, a passenger suffered serious… ## Other investigations on N3581D (1) 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. - [NTSB DEN90LA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN90LA005), Oct 8, 1989: Aerostar RX-8 (N3581D), Albuquerque, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF AN UNSUITABLE AREA (TERRAIN) FOR LANDING. THE STATIC CABLE & POWER LINE WERE CONSIDERED TO BE RELATED FACTORS. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.