ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 347665
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| Date: | Saturday 14 October 2023 |
| Time: | 09:10 LT |
| Type: |  Cameron A-315 |
| Owner/operator: | Rainbow Ryders Hot Air Balloon Co. |
| Registration: | N315RR |
| MSN: | 6979 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 7 hours |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 13 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Albuquerque, NM -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Landing |
| Nature: | Executive |
| Departure airport: | Albuquerque, NM |
| Albuquerque, NM | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The pilot stated that the flight was a balloon sightseeing flight that was departing from a large balloon festival. He received a weather briefing as part of the festival and there was no forecasted adverse conditions. Prior to departure, he briefed all 12 passengers on the proper landing position (knees slightly bent with both hands holding onto the rope). After a normal accent, the pilot flew for about 40 minutes and prepared to land. During the descent, he noted that the surface winds were faster than earlier in the flight. As they descended to about 75 ft above ground level (agl), the balloon encountered windshear and turbulent air. In response, the balloon descended faster than the pilot anticipated, and he was unable to arrest the descent. The balloon contacted a chain-link fence and touched down in a field. As a result of the landing, a passenger suffered a bone fracture (in the ankle area). The balloon did not sustain damage.
The pilot stated that there were no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
The High-Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) sounding over the landing site indicated a stable atmosphere with no thermals and a defined low-level temperature inversion to about 2,000 ft agl with light and variable winds to the surface. No strong winds were indicated below 10,000 ft mean seal level (msl).
Probable Cause: The pilot's inability to maintain control of the balloon during landing due to unforecasted windshear and turbulent air.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB WPR24LA019
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 06-Nov-2023 18:03 | Captain Adam | Added |
| 22-Dec-2023 10:45 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Operator, Total occupants, Other fatalities, Phase, Nature, Source, Narrative, Plane category] |
| 22-Dec-2023 10:46 | harro | Updated [Other fatalities, Narrative, Plane category] |
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