Aerostar RX-8 N5161Y
2 October 2016 · Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 2 October 2016 at about 14:30 local time, a Aerostar RX-8 registered N5161Y 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.
The record
- Date
- at 14:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
- Coordinates
- 35.1344, -106.6144
- Aircraft
- Aerostar RX-8
- Registration
- N5161Y
- Category
- Balloon
- Year built
- 1999
- 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
- CEN17CA013
People
2 people had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
Probable cause
The pilot's improperly planned landing, which resulted in a strike with power lines.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The hot air free balloon was participating in the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. According to the pilot, he was approaching a vacant field for landing after a one-hour flight. The pilot approached the field from about 8 feet above the ground and the envelope impacted an unnoticed power line during landing. The pilot deflated the envelope, but the wind pulled the envelope and basket into the lines, which resulted in arcing against the uprights and frame.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Aerostar RX-8 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Jun 2013 | Aerostar RX 8 | Arvada, Colorado, United States | Providence David C | Serious injuries | - |
| 29 Nov 2020 | Aerostar RX 8 | St. George, Utah, United States | Scott J. Gneiting | Serious injuries | - |
| 15 Aug 2020 | Aerostar RX 8 | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | Ken Tuley | Serious injuries | - |
| 8 Jun 2022 | Aerostar RX 8 | Hot Springs, South Dakota, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 8 Jul 2023 | Aerostar RX 8 | Canandaigua, New York, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 4 Nov 2023 | Aerostar RX 8 | Page, Arizona, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 May 2016 | Cessna 150 | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 29 May 2016 | Harry Oas PITTS S1C | Carlsbad, New Mexico, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 15 Dec 2016 | Robinson R44 | Separ, New Mexico, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 4 Sep 2016 | Piper PA 28-180 | Cuba, New Mexico, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 23 Oct 2016 | Beechcraft D18S | Deming, New Mexico, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 16 Jun 2016 | Beechcraft 77 | Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States | - | No injuries | - |