ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 294483
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Friday 7 October 2022 |
| Time: | 10:21 LT |
| Type: |  Aerostar S53A |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | N9140F |
| MSN: | S53A-3052 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3 |
| Aircraft damage: | Minor |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Rio Grande near Albuquerque, NM -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Landing |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Albuquerque, NM |
| Albuquerque, NM | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The pilot reported that he was descending to land following a normal balloon flight. About 1,000 ft agl, the wind shifted direction, and the balloon began drifting over areas unsuitable for landing. The balloon had been airborne for an hour and a half, and fuel in the two tanks were about 20 and 35.9 percent respectively. With low fuel becoming critical and few options for a suitable landing site, the pilot elected to land the balloon on a highway. During the landing, the balloon struck a bridge railing and came down in a wooded area next to a river. One of the passengers on board sustained serious injuries. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the balloon that would have precluded normal operations. The pilot reported that he should have landed sooner.
Probable Cause: The pilot's inability to find a suitable landing area in a critical fuel situation and his decision to land on a highway, which resulted in the balloon impacting a bridge railing and terrain.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB CEN23LA006
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 11-Oct-2022 18:42 | Captain Adam | Added |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation