Worner Balloon Works NL-1000 DOYES
3 October 2004 · Chama, New Mexico, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 3 October 2004 at about 17:20 local time, a Worner Balloon Works NL-1000 registered DOYES was involved in an accident near Chama, New Mexico, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 17:20
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Chama, New Mexico, United States
- Coordinates
- 36.8936, -106.4883
- Aircraft
- Worner Balloon Works NL-1000
- Registration
- DOYES
- Category
- Balloon
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Air Race/Show
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Albuquerque → Albuquerque
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Night
- NTSB number
- DEN05LA004
People
2 people were seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
the lightning strike and subsequent failure of the balloon's envelope, resulting in an uncontrolled descent and impact with terrain.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
According to the pilot, while participating in an endurance competition, he heard a "loud" bang and saw a "flash." He then noticed a large "L" shaped tear in the balloon's envelope as the balloon began to descend "rapidly." The balloon impacted mountainous terrain at an elevation of 8,000 feet. The pilot and passenger each sustained a broken ankle.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Dec 2004 | Piper PA-18-150 | Jal, New Mexico, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 23 Jan 2004 | Beechcraft A36 | Farmington, New Mexico, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 25 Mar 2004 | Mikoyan Mig MIG-17 | Truth or Conseq, New Mexico, United States | George L. Cambron | Fatal | 1 |
| 19 Dec 2004 | Daniels VANS RV-8 | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 28 Oct 2004 | Cessna 152 | Santa Teresa, New Mexico, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 22 May 2004 | Cessna 182E | Santa Teresa, New Mexico, United States | - | No injuries | - |