Lindstrand Balloons LBL N994AF
5 October 2003 · Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 5 October 2003 at about 13:23 local time, a Lindstrand Balloons LBL registered N994AF was involved in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States. 6 people were on board and 2 were 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 13:23
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
- Coordinates
- 36.3333, -106.6000
- Aircraft
- Lindstrand Balloons LBL
- Registration
- N994AF
- Category
- Balloon
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Albuquerque → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Not recorded
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- DEN04LA005
People
2 people were seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
Probable cause
the inadequate in-flight planning/decision by the pilot. Contributing factors include the inadvertent activation of the deflation line by the pilot and the retaining wall.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
According to the passengers on board, the balloon was climbing when the pilot pulled the deflation line, releasing a flap at the top of the balloon. The balloon then descended rapidly striking terrain, bouncing, and then colliding with a retaining wall. The passengers were thrown to the floor of the balloon, seriously injuring two passengers. The pilot remained on his feet, re-inflated the balloon and continued the flight for an additional 20 to 30 minutes. Two passengers asked the pilot, after the collision, what had happened. The pilot replied, "He had pulled the wrong chord."
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Jun 2003 | Cessna 182R | Hobbs, New Mexico, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 12 Jun 2003 | Cessna R172E | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | Kirtland Flight Center | No injuries | - |
| 5 Nov 2003 | Maule M-7-235C | Truth or Conseq, New Mexico, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 15 Jun 2003 | Adams Balloon A55 | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 24 Apr 2003 | Air Tractor AT-502 | Sedan, New Mexico, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 30 Nov 2003 | Cessna T210K | Deming, New Mexico, United States | - | No injuries | - |