Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
the passenger striking the pilot's leg during the landing, resulting in a fractured leg.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On October 10, 2004, at approximately 0820 mountain daylight time, an Aerostar International, Inc., S-60S hot air balloon, N6377C, piloted by a private pilot, was involved in a hard landing near Albuquerque, New Mexico. The balloon was not damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local sightseeing flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot received serious injuries and the passenger was not injured. The flight originated at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Park, Albuquerque, New Mexico, at approximately 0725.
The pilot stated that, during the "stand-up" landing, the passenger fell inside the basket, and struck the pilot's left leg. The pilot sustained a fracture at the top of the tibia bone just behind the knee cap. The pilot said it was just "a freak incident" and did not think it could have been prevented.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# DEN05CA010