Aerostar RX-7 N9126K

Summary

On 5 October 2009 at about 14:02 local time, a Aerostar RX-7 registered N9126K was involved in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was slightly damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 October 2009 at 14:02

Classification

Accident

Location

Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States

Nearest airport

Albuquerque Intl Sunport (ABQ)

Coordinates

35.1872, -106.5872

Aircraft

Aerostar RX-7

Registration

N9126K

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

Minor

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN10CA010

2 people were seriously injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from a known obstacle and the pilot’s failure to maintain control of the balloon during the sudden climb following the ejection of the passenger.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

During a morning balloon competition flight the pilot was attempting to maneuver the balloon in order to drop a marker on a target. When approaching the target area the pilot said she was flying approximately 15 feet above ground level when she “burned to ascend” over a steel frame sponsor’s tent on the edge of the competition target area. The balloon cleared the rear of the tent, but the basket struck the front edge. A review of a video recording of the event shows that the impact abruptly tilted the basket more than 45 degrees. The passenger was ejected and fell approximately 30 feet to the ground. Suddenly minus the weight of the missing passenger the balloon then ascended rapidly and the pilot attempted to correct by venting. The rapid climb and the venting at the top of the balloon envelope caused the mouth of the balloon to close and the balloon then began descending rapidly. The pilot was unable to correct the descent with a burn because the closed mouth was being burned by the flames from the burner. The balloon landed hard and sustained minor damage. The passenger and pilot both sustained serious injuries.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.