ALBUQUERQUE, NM, USA
N3581D
Aerostar RX 8
The pilot said that while aloft, surface winds increased to 15 knots, and he briefed his passengers on high wind landing procedures. The balloon touched down and the basket tipped over. One passenger fell against another passenger and fractured his leg.
On October 8, 1996, approximately 0930 mountain daylight time, an Aerostar International RX 8, N3581D, was not damaged during landing at Albuquerque, New Mexico. One passenger sustained a serious injury, but the commercial pilot and another passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Albuquerque on October 8, approximately 0900. On January 7, 1997, the pilot was contacted by telephone. He stated he had sent a completed accident report to FAA's Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) in Albuquerque. A FSDO spokesman said they had never received a report from the pilot. Another accident report was sent to the pilot. The report was received on February 3, 1997. According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (attached), a passenger braced her foot against a propane tank in preparation for landing. Upon landing, the passenger sustained a fractured bone just above the ankle. The pilot had previously told an FAA inspector (who had been monitoring the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta) that while aloft, surface winds had increased to 15 knots and he briefed his passengers on high wind landing procedures. When the balloon touched down, the basket tipped over and a passenger fell against another passenger, fracturing his leg. The pilot did not include the names of his passengers in his accident report. According to the FAA, however, the pilot and two passengers were aboard the balloon at the time of the accident.
A sudden increase in wind velocity.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
