Cameron N-120 N1607G
4 October 1998 · Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 4 October 1998 at about 14:30 local time, a Cameron N-120 registered N1607G was involved in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States. 5 people were on board and one was seriously injured, 3 had minor injuries. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 14:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
- Coordinates
- 35.0602, -106.6203
- Aircraft
- Cameron N-120
- Registration
- N1607G
- Category
- Balloon
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Not recorded
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- DEN99LA003
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
Probable cause
The balloon's encounter with unforecasted wind shear and the subsequent inadvertent collision with terrain. A factor was the pilot's inability to control the balloon's descent.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot and his passengers went for a short ride at Albuquerque's Balloon Fiesta when he encountered wind shear. The pilot and a pilot rated passenger executed a burn to control the descent. The burn was unsuccessful. The balloon made a hard landing, and one passenger broke her leg. The balloon was not damaged in the landing, although the basket did tip over while the pilot was attempting to deflate the balloon.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Jun 1998 | Lockheed SP-2H | Reserve, New Mexico, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 19 Jan 1998 | Martin VARIEZE | Artesia, New Mexico, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 24 Jan 1998 | Piper PA-32RT-300 | Taos, New Mexico, United States | Flight Training Center | No injuries | - |
| 2 Sep 1998 | Air Tractor AT-502B | Portales, New Mexico, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 6 Sep 1998 | Jobe's TE-1 | Alamogordo, New Mexico, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 13 Mar 1998 | Beechcraft 58 | Taos, New Mexico, United States | Ican Enterprises, Inc. | No injuries | - |