Aerostar RX8 N90550

Summary

On 10 October 2012 at about 14:50 local time, a Aerostar RX8 registered N90550 was involved in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States. 3 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

10 October 2012 at 14:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States

Coordinates

35.1002, -106.6566

Aircraft

Aerostar RX8

Registration

N90550

Category

Balloon

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Albuquerque → Albuquerque

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN13LA032

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot’s failure to attain the desired touchdown point because of wind conditions and surrounding obstructions, which resulted in the balloon impacting a fence during the approach to landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

After attending a mandatory preflight briefing at a balloon festival, the pilot launched his balloon with the first group of balloons to launch. During an approach for landing in a field, the balloon encountered stronger-than-expected wind. The approach to the landing crossed power lines, a commercial building, and a fence. The pilot stated that as the balloon approached the field, it became unresponsive and impacted the fence; he thought that the balloon encountered a "false heavy," or wind shear, which resulted in a loss of lift.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.