History of Flight
On June 26, 2021, about 0707 mountain daylight time, a Cameron Balloons US O-120 balloon, N158NM, was destroyed in an accident in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The pilot and four passengers were fatally injured. The balloon was operating as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 sightseeing passenger flight.
After about one hour of uneventful flight, the pilot maneuvered the balloon for landing. The intended landing site was an open field near a major road intersection. Power lines oriented east/west were nearly perpendicular to the balloon's flightpath to the field. The power lines were hung between metal poles about 78 ft high, with two noncharged ground lines on each side at the top and several charged lines below.
Surveillance video from a local business showed the balloon climbing before the road intersection where the power lines were located. The video then depicted the balloon descending into the power lines as it crossed approximately perpendicular to the wires. Shortly thereafter, the balloon contacted a high-tension power line, an arc appeared, and the basket separated from the envelope. The envelope was later found about 0.6 miles south of the accident site at a private residence.
Aircraft Information
The balloon envelope and basket were manufactured in June 2013 by Cameron Balloons U.S. The balloon's standard airworthiness certificate was issued on August 7, 2013, and was current until July 31, 2022. The balloon's last annual inspection was on June 14, 2021, at an airframe time of 286.75 hours. The balloon was registered to an LLC in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The balloon's flight manual, section 3, Emergency Procedures, states: "Contact with electrical power lines by any part or the balloon, by anything attached to the balloon, or by occupants of the balloon, may cause fatal or serious injuries to the occupants and must be avoided. However, if contact with electrical power lines becomes inevitable: pull the parachute or rip line to ensure that the basket is as close to the ground as possible before contact."
Meteorological Information
The surface analysis chart depicted a high-pressure system over Colorado to the north of the accident site with a ridge extending southward into northern New Mexico, and a low-pressure system extending into southern New Mexico. The accident site was on the cold air side of a cold front under the influence of the ridge. Station models indicated winds from the north at 5 knots or less and no significant weather.
A sounding model indicated a surface-based temperature inversion to 309 ft above ground level. The wind profile showed light surface wind from the east, backing counterclockwise to the north above 2,000 ft. The sounding depicted a light potential for low-level wind shear below 300 ft above ground level (5,597 ft mean sea level). Several witnesses noted the low-level wind shear, but there were no reports of other balloon landing accidents in the area that morning.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The accident site was at a major road intersection with power lines running perpendicular to the south/north road. The power lines were on the south side of the east-west road, hung between metal poles about 78 ft high. Between the two poles crossing the intersection, two static lines were on top of all wires; one static line was missing on the south side. Discoloration was on a power line near where the basket was located on the road. The basket separated from the envelope and came to rest on its side.
Electrical arcing damage was found on the envelope support cables and the basket support frame, consistent with the balloon impacting the power lines at or near the burner support frame and basket, severing enough support cables to separate the basket. The basket fell about 75 ft to the road. The envelope and burner assembly were found about 0.6 miles south. Postaccident examination revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Additional Information
The Federal Aviation Administration Balloon Flying Handbook, Chapter 7, states: "descending over an obstacle gives the greatest opportunity to misjudge the clearance over an obstacle." Chapter 8 notes: "During the approach one of the pilot's most important observations is watching for power lines." The handbook also outlines three safe choices when an obstacle is between the balloon and the landing site: give appropriate clearance and drop from altitude, reject the landing, or fly a low approach over the obstacle and then land. It notes that clearing the obstacle while ascending is the safest option.
Medical and Pathological Information
The New Mexico Office of the Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy on the pilot, determining the cause of death as "blunt trauma." Toxicology testing by FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory detected delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) at 19.6 ng/mL in cavity blood and 65.4 ng/mL in urine. Cocaine was detected at 51 ng/mL in cavity blood and 2,083 ng/mL in urine.
Organizational and Management Information
The accident pilot and his balloon were used as contracted labor by Hot Air Balloonatics, LLC, when they had excess passengers. Hot Air Balloonatics would refer passengers to him, and he operated independently under his own LLC's procedures.