Skypower GBN-41-100 N59SP

Summary

On 6 October 1985 at about 05:15 local time, a Skypower GBN-41-100 registered N59SP, operated by DR. James O. Jones, was involved in an accident near Pecos, New Mexico, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

6 October 1985 at 05:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Pecos, New Mexico, United States

Coordinates

35.5698, -105.6695

Aircraft

Skypower GBN-41-100

Registration

N59SP

Category

Balloon

Operator

DR. James O. Jones

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Albuquerque → Elkhart

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

DEN86LA006

2 people had minor injuries.

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

FLT WAS PARTICIPATION IN THE 1985 BALLOON FIESTA, A NIGHT HELIUM-FILLED BALLOON RACE FROM ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO, TO ELKHART, KANSAS. ONE HR AFTER LAUNCH PLT ENCOUNTERED SMALL WIND SHEAR, CAUSING LOSS OF ALTITUDE, BALLAST, AND HELIUM. PLT THEN ENCOUNTERED RAIN, SNOW, ICE AND SEVERE WIND SHEAR. ICE CAUSED BALLOON TO DESCEND. ALL BALLAST WAS THROWN OVERBOARD, AS WAS COMMUNICATIONS AND SURVIVAL EQUIPMENT. BALLOON CLEARED ONE PEAK BUT CRASHED INTO EAST SIDE OF PECOS-BALDY MOUNTAIN AT THE 10,900-FT LEVEL. PLTS WALKED OUT OF WILDERNESS AREA THE NEXT AFTERNOON WITH MINOR INJURIES AND FROSTBITE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.