Cameron Balloons Us O-120 N158NM

Summary

On 26 June 2021 at about 13:07 local time, a Cameron Balloons Us O-120 registered N158NM was involved in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States. 5 people were on board and 5 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 June 2021 at 13:07

Classification

Accident

Location

Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States

Coordinates

35.0774, -106.7229

Aircraft

Cameron Balloons Us O-120

Registration

N158NM

Category

Balloon

Year built

2013

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Abq → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR21FA242

5 people died.

The failure of the pilot to maintain adequate clearance from power lines while maneuvering for landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s use of impairing, illicit drugs.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was conducting a sightseeing flight, with four passengers on board the balloon. Near the conclusion of the flight, the pilot maneuvered the balloon to land in an open field across a major intersection. Power lines were orientated nearly perpendicular to the balloon’s flight path to the field. The power lines were hung between metal poles that were about 78 ft high. A review of surveillance video from a local business revealed that the balloon began a climb before the intersection, with the power lines across the road. Video then depicted the balloon descending into the power lines as it crossed about perpendicular to the wires. Shortly thereafter, the balloon contacted a high-tension power line, an arc appeared, and the basket separated from the envelope and subsequently impacted the road. A postaccident examination of the balloon revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Postmortem toxicology testing of specimens from the pilot was consistent with the recent use of cannabis (THC) and cocaine. The pilot’s cavity blood THC concentration was detected at 5.5 ng/mL, suggesting that usage was within the last few hours. Some impairing effects of THC would likely have been present that would have affected the pilot’s ability to successfully operate the balloon. Cocaine was detected in blood and urine at levels that suggested recent use. At the time of the accident, the impairing effects of the pilot’s use of THC and cocaine likely contributed to the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.