Overview
On March 30, 2008, a Balloon Works Firefly 9 hot air balloon, registration N72345, was destroyed after a hard landing in an open field near Questa, New Mexico. The balloon was registered to and operated by the Pueblo Balloon Company of Taos, New Mexico. The certified commercial pilot sustained minor injuries, while the five passengers were seriously injured. The local sightseeing flight operated under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which departed from Taos, New Mexico, around 0730 mountain daylight time. No flight plan was filed.
Pilot Account
The pilot, who also owned Pueblo Balloon Company, said he typically made only one early morning flight per day depending on weather conditions. Prior to the flight, he obtained weather information from local airports and released pilot balloons to determine wind direction. During the flight, his chase crew also released pilot balloons. Winds were calm at the beginning and then "arced" toward the north-northwest en route; however, he did not know the wind speed. He described the weather as clear of clouds with unlimited visibility.
The pilot and five passengers departed from a launch site near the John Dunn Memorial Bridge in Taos and flew down the Rio Grande Gorge. The flight was normal and "lackadaisical" until the final minutes. As the pilot descended toward a large open grass field in Wild River Park, where he had landed many times before, he told the passengers to bend their knees. When the balloon was about 20 feet above ground level (agl), the "bottom fell out" and it descended rapidly with forward motion until hitting the ground. The impact ejected four passengers and broke a burner can mount, causing it to point downward. The balloon caught fire and ascended to about 30 feet agl with the pilot and one passenger still onboard. Attempts to turn off the pilot light failed. The pilot told the passenger not to jump as the balloon began descending. It hit the ground hard again, ejecting both the pilot and passenger; the passenger was thrown through the side of the wicker basket. The balloon bounced several more times as it traveled north toward rising terrain, where it became fully engulfed in flames and was incinerated. The pilot stated that the balloon most likely encountered a roll cloud from the nearby ridge.
Passenger Account
One passenger, in a written statement, said she and others were concerned about wind because previous days had been "very windy." She watched the crew set up the balloon and release a "test balloon," which "looked good." The takeoff was normal, and the pilot flew over the Rio Grande Gorge, dropping into the canyon three or four times. During the landing, she recalled the pilot radioing the ground crew that he could not get a west wind, so they would land in a field near Three Rivers Park. As they descended, the pilot said the landing would be hard and told them to hold on tight and not get out until he said it was OK. She remembered looking down but could not recall altitude; she did notice the balloon's fast horizontal movement. Suddenly, the balloon hit the ground with tremendous force. The basket dragged and then departed with the pilot and a passenger still onboard. She noted one burner can was pointed downward. The balloon traveled less than a mile and appeared on fire as it disappeared.
Weather
The pilot reported obtaining weather from local airports and releasing pilot balloons. The closest weather observation was from Taos Municipal Airport (SKX), about 15 miles south-southwest of the accident site. At 0835, the observation reported wind from 110 degrees at 4 knots, visibility 10 miles, clear skies, temperature 36°F, dew point 18°F, and a barometric pressure of 30.01 inches of mercury.
Pilot Experience
The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate for lighter-than-air and reported 853 total hours in hot air balloons.