Aerostar RX 8 N900FC

Summary

On 15 August 2020 at about 14:00 local time, a Aerostar RX 8 registered N900FC, operated by Ken Tuley, was involved in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 August 2020 at 14:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States

Nearest airport

Double Eagle (AEG)

Coordinates

35.1600, -106.5000

Aircraft

Aerostar RX 8

Registration

N900FC

Category

Balloon

Year built

2007

Operator

Ken Tuley

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Albuquerque → Albuquerque

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Dawn

NTSB number

WPR20CA272

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain the proper descent rate during the balloon’s approach to a high-wind landing, which resulted in a hard landing and serious passenger injury.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that for the balloon flight, the wind conditions were forecast to be light and variable at 4 knots. The wind at take0ff was from the north at 5 mph and 40 minutes later had increased to 15 mph. The pilot subsequently executed a high wind landing procedure. The balloon landed hard and was not damaged; however, the passenger, who was braced for landing, suffered a serious broken ankle injury. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.