PECOS, NM, USA
N59SP
Skypower GBN-41-100
FLT WAS PARTICIPATION IN THE 1985 BALLOON FIESTA, A NIGHT HELIUM-FILLED BALLOON RACE FROM ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO, TO ELKHART, KANSAS. ONE HR AFTER LAUNCH PLT ENCOUNTERED SMALL WIND SHEAR, CAUSING LOSS OF ALTITUDE, BALLAST, AND HELIUM. PLT THEN ENCOUNTERED RAIN, SNOW, ICE AND SEVERE WIND SHEAR. ICE CAUSED BALLOON TO DESCEND. ALL BALLAST WAS THROWN OVERBOARD, AS WAS COMMUNICATIONS AND SURVIVAL EQUIPMENT. BALLOON CLEARED ONE PEAK BUT CRASHED INTO EAST SIDE OF PECOS-BALDY MOUNTAIN AT THE 10,900-FT LEVEL. PLTS WALKED OUT OF WILDERNESS AREA THE NEXT AFTERNOON WITH MINOR INJURIES AND FROSTBITE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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