Aerostar S-66A accident near Albuquerque, NM
On October 8, 2007, an Aerostar S-66A (balloon) was involved in an accident near Albuquerque, NM. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- October 8, 2007
- Place
- Albuquerque, NM
- Aircraft
- Aerostar S-66A · Balloon
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 2 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 35.132°N, 106.618°W
- NTSB ID
- 20071029X01673
NTSB summary
On October 8, 2007, approximately 0742 mountain daylight time, an Aerostar S-66A, N7179Z, registered to Star Trail, Inc., and piloted by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged when it became entangled in power lines shortly after taking off at Albuquerque, New Mexico. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, and no flight plan had been filed. One passenger was fatally injured, two passengers were seriously injured, and the pilot and one passenger were not injured. The local flight originated approximately 0730. The pilot was sent NTSB Form 6120.1/2, Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, by U.S. postage, and asked to complete it. The pilot did not respond and has failed to return telephone calls from both NTSB and FAA. The following is based on the New Mexico State Police report, an FAA report, and interviews with pilot, and witness statements. The hot air free balloon was participating in the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. A witness said wind velocity had increased, and he watched several balloons go by "at high speed and low altitude." The pilot told an FAA inspector that he had been flying in a southwest direction (state troopers determined the balloon had been flying in a southeast direction) and that he had "stayed low to [keep] right of the congested areas" (two of his passengers told state troopers that they were flying "too low"). The pilot became distracted when he saw another balloon hit a house. The next
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate visual lookout and clearance resulting in an in-flight collision with power lines, and the ground crew's improper assistance. Contributing to this accident were the high wind, the pilot's diverted attention, low altitude, transmission wire, and the subsequent partial failure of the basket and envelope.
More accidents in NM
- Gates Learjet 25D, Sep 5, 1993
- Piper PA-32-300, Dec 26, 1982
- Mitsubishi MU-2B-30, Jun 25, 1992
- Cessna 421C, Feb 11, 1985
- Beech 58, Mar 26, 1982
Browse: New Mexico · Aerostar aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
