# NTSB GAA20CA012: Aerostar International RX 7, N9126K, Rio Rancho, NM, October 7, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 7, 2019, 09:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Rio Rancho, NM - Coordinates: 35.241664, -106.767776 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2417&lon=-106.7678&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 100410 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA20CA012 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100410/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100410 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA012 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate descent rate during landing, which resulted in a hard landing and a postaccident fire. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Aerostar International RX-7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=7487007), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aerostar International RX-7, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7487007), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Passenger; cases with it: [Aerostar International RX-7, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7487007), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Aerostar International RX-7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7487007), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Aerostar International RX-7, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=7487007), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) ## Analysis The balloon pilot reported that, during an air race, she identified a landing area with dirt roads. She had a gradual descent to land, but as the balloon neared the surface, the winds were "in the 20+ mile per hour range." The balloon landed hard and bounced. She instructed the passenger to get lower in the basket, regained control, and attempted another landing. During the second landing, the pilot "pulled the red line to let the hot air out of the envelope but was dragged across the ground," and she was ejected from the basket; the passenger remained in the balloon. A crewmember on the ground instructed the passenger to pull the red line again. The balloon landed hard, the passenger was ejected, and the basket was destroyed by postaccident fire. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The balloon pilot reported that, during an air race, she identified a landing area with dirt roads. She had a gradual descent to land, but as the balloon neared the surface, the winds were "in the 20+ mile per hour range." The balloon landed hard and bounced. She instructed the passenger to get lower in the basket, regained control, and attempted another landing. During the second landing, she "pulled the red line to let the hot air out of the envelope but was dragged across the ground" and the pilot was ejected from the basket; the passenger remained in the balloon. A crew member on the ground instructed the passenger to pull the red line again. The balloon landed hard, the passenger was ejected, and the basket was destroyed in a postaccident fire. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot added as a safety recommendation to conduct an additional preflight briefing for the passenger. The automated weather observation station, located 6 miles to the south, reported that, about 31 minutes before the accident, the wind was variable at 3 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9126K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9126K), registered now, S/N RX7-3326, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aerostar International RX 7 (No Series) - Registry model: [Aerostar International RX-7](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-international-rx-7) (registry code 7487007) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: RX7-3326 - Year built: 1998 - Airframe hours: 300 - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Air race/show, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon - Last inspection: Annual, September 3, 2019 - Departed: Corrales, NM - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 15, 2019; flight hours: 537.4 total, 343.8 in this make and model, 377.8 as pilot in command, 3.7 in the last 90 days, 3.7 in the last 30 days, 2.2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Observed at: KAEG, 6 nm away ## 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 20191007023419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191007023419A), Oct 7, 2019: Aerostar International Inc RX-7, Rio Rancho, NM, Substantial damage. On October 7,2019, at 0900 MDT, an Aerostar International Inc RX-7, N9126K, [privacy data omitted], experienced a hard landing approximately 021.87 degrees,… ## Other investigations on N9126K (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 CEN10CA010](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA010), Oct 5, 2009: Aerostar International RX-7 (N9126K), Albuquerque, NM, minor damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from a known obstacle and the pilot’s failure to maintain control of the balloon during the sudden climb following the ejection of the passenger. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 10, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100410. 4.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478919&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 193 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478920&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478921&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 4, .PDF, 826 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478922&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-Master.PDF 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.