Thunder Balloons AX9-140 N9606A
3 October 1982 · Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 3 October 1982 at about 15:47 local time, a Thunder Balloons AX9-140 registered N9606A, operated by Joseph A. Gonzales, was involved in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States. 9 people were on board and 4 died, 3 were seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.
The record
- Date
- at 15:47
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
- Coordinates
- 35.1896, -106.6901
- Aircraft
- Thunder Balloons AX9-140
- Registration
- N9606A
- Category
- Balloon
- Operator
- Joseph A. Gonzales
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Albuquerque → Albuquerque
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- FTW83FA001
People
4 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
Probable cause
The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.
Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.
Read the full NTSB narrative
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.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Aug 1982 | Cessna 401A | Silver City, New Mexico, United States | Flying A Flight Service Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 7 Feb 1982 | Cessna 177RG | Artesia, New Mexico, United States | Leslie A. Anderson | No injuries | - |
| 28 Dec 1982 | Cessna T210M | Reserve, New Mexico, United States | E.h. Mullins & V.n. Mullins | Fatal | 1 |
| 1 Jan 1982 | Piper PA-28-161 | Hobbs, New Mexico, United States | Marshall AVN | No injuries | - |
| 1 Feb 1982 | Cessna P206 | Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States | Walter C. White | No injuries | - |
| 24 Feb 1982 | Bell 206B | Watrous, New Mexico, United States | Doolittle Enterprises Inc. | Fatal | 1 |