Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Albuquerque, New Mexico
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Albuquerque, New Mexico
Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
https://registry.faa.gov/N275WB
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Accident Number: GAA20CA037
Date & Time: 10/19/2019, 0805 MDT
Registration: N275WB
Aircraft: Ultramagic N 250
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Collision during takeoff/land
Injuries: 13 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Business - Sightseeing
Analysis
The pilot reported that, during approach in a balloon, he flew over a line of trees and noticed power lines. He told his 12 passengers to "get down," and he turned off the propane tanks in the basket in anticipation of the baskets contacting the power lines. To avoid power line contact with the balloon's support cables, the pilot activated the burners on the opposite side of the expected contact point, hoping the balloon would ascend. The balloon contacted the power lines just above the leather bolster, "causing a huge explosion." The power lines cut through the support cables in the pilot compartment. The balloon began to ascend away from the power lines, and the pilot maneuvered to a parking lot and descended to land. During the descent, the balloon's basket caught fire. The pilot landed on the asphalt parking lot surface, and the passengers exited the basket. The pilot rapidly deflated the envelope and attempted to extinguish the fire. The balloon sustained substantial damage to the support cables and the basket. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's failure maintain clearance from power lines, which resulted in an explosion and preimpact fire.
Findings
Personnel issues
Monitoring environment - Pilot (Cause)
Environmental issues
Wire - Effect on operation (Cause)
Factual Information
History of Flight
Landing
Collision during takeoff/land (Defining event)
Fire/smoke (non-impact)
Pilot Information
Certificate: Commercial
Age: 55, Male
Airplane Rating(s): None
Seat Occupied: None
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Balloon
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 09/11/2019
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 05/19/2018
Flight Time: (Estimated) 2330 hours (Total, all aircraft), 530 hours (Total, this make and model), 2300 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 58 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 36 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 1 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Ultramagic
Registration: N275WB
Model/Series: N 250 No Series
Aircraft Category: Balloon
Year of Manufacture: 2017
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Balloon
Serial Number: 250/91
Landing Gear Type: Other Launch/Recovery System;
Seats: 7
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 04/01/2019, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2200 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 None
Airframe Total Time: 550 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Powerplus 3 Burner
ELT:
Engine Model/Series: BMK-050
Registered Owner: BALLOONS OVER THE RAINBOW INC
Rated Power:
Operator: BALLOONS OVER THE RAINBOW INC
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Commercial Air Tour (136)
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KABQ, 5314 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 3 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1352 UTC
Direction from Accident Site: 147°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: Calm /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction:
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 30.06 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 6°C / -8°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Albuquerque, NM
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Albuquerque, NM
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 0715 MDT
Type of Airspace: Class C
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 12 None
Aircraft Fire: In-Flight
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: In-Flight
Total Injuries: 13 None
Latitude, Longitude: 35.084444, -106.650278 (est)
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Albuquerque, New Mexico
Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
Location: Rio Rancho, NM
Accident Number: GAA19CA030
Date & Time: 10/08/2018, 0959 MDT
Registration: N275WB
Aircraft: Ultramagic N 250
Aircraft Damage: None
Defining Event: Miscellaneous/other
Injuries: 1 Serious, 12 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Aerial Observation - Sightseeing
Analysis
The balloon pilot reported that, during touchdown, the basket made very light impact, swung around, and stopped. He added that, as the balloon deflated, the basket tipped over on its side.
While assisting passengers out of the basket, a passenger told the pilot that she had a broken arm. The pilot reported that she stated to him that believed that another passenger had possibly fallen on her when the basket tipped over.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The balloon tipping over during deflation, which resulted in a passenger injury.
Findings
Aircraft
Aircraft oper/perf/capability - Not specified (Cause)
Factual Information
History of Flight
Landing
Miscellaneous/other (Defining event)
The balloon pilot reported that, during touchdown, the basket made very light impact, swung around, and stopped. He added that as the balloon deflated, the basket laid over on its side.
While assisting passengers out of the basket, the female passenger told the pilot that she had broken her arm. The pilot reported that, after picking her up from the hospital, she believed that another passenger had possibly fallen on her when the basket laid over.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation.
Pilot Information
Certificate: Commercial
Age: 55, Male
Airplane Rating(s): None
Seat Occupied: Unknown
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Balloon
Restraint Used: None
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 09/04/2018
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 07/09/2017
Flight Time: (Estimated) 2060 hours (Total, all aircraft), 300 hours (Total, this make and model), 2060 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 70 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 14 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 2 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Ultramagic
Registration: N275WB
Model/Series: N 250 No Series
Aircraft Category: Balloon
Year of Manufacture: 2017
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Balloon
Serial Number: 250/91
Landing Gear Type: None
Seats: 0
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 09/21/2018, 100 Hour
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 4200 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 0
Airframe Total Time: 279 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer:
ELT: Not installed
Engine Model/Series:
Registered Owner: Buoyant Investments Inc
Rated Power:
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Does Business As: Perfect Flight, LLC
Operator Designator Code:
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KAEG, 5837 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 9 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1547 UTC
Direction from Accident Site: 236°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 15000 ft agl
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 6 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 210°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 29.93 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 8°C / 6°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Albuquerque, NM (N/A)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: VFR
Destination: Rio Rancho, NM
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 0901 MDT
Type of Airspace: Class G
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: None
Passenger Injuries: 1 Serious, 11 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Serious, 12 None
Latitude, Longitude: 35.226111, -106.649444 (est)
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