Aerostar RX-8 N6310T

Summary

On 22 December 1996 at about 15:50 local time, a Aerostar RX-8 registered N6310T was involved in an accident near Rio Rancho, New Mexico, United States. 4 people were on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was slightly damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

22 December 1996 at 15:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Rio Rancho, New Mexico, United States

Coordinates

35.2704, -106.6602

Aircraft

Aerostar RX-8

Registration

N6310T

Category

Balloon

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Albuquerque → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Minor

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW97LA069

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's inadvertent flight into high wind.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that she received a weather briefing at approximately 0610 that morning from the Albuquerque FSS. The pilot reported that the balloon flight began at 0750 with 'winds at approximately 6 knots or less.' Approximately 3 to 4 miles northwest of the launch site the pilot 'lowered the balloon to river level and drifted along at 2 to 3 miles per hour for 20 to 30 minutes.' As the balloon rose out of the river valley, the wind shifted to 210 degrees and increased to 15 to 20 MPH. The pilot stated that it took her approximately 20 minutes to locate a 'safe' landing area and by then the wind speed had increased to 20 to 25 MPH. Upon landing, the pilot 'deployed the deflation port,' but the impact was such that two passengers were 'bounced out of the basket.' One of the passengers fell forward and was seriously injured due to being 'run over' by the basket.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.