Amateur-built 72K-TET accident near Rio Rancho, New Mexico, October 10, 2008
On October 10, 2008 at about 1:53 pm local time, a amateur-built 72K-TET (balloon), registered N72KX, was destroyed in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Rio Rancho, New Mexico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the power lines and the failure of either pilot to take any corrective action to avoid the collision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 10, 2008 · about 1:53 pm local time
- Place
- Rio Rancho, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built 72K-TET
- Registration
- N72KX · registry record · serial S-003
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilots were participating in a balloon festival. A witness stated that the balloon was traveling northeast between 15 and 20 knots. The wind was gusting between 20 and 25 knots. The witness said, "As the balloon proceeded towards me...I noticed that there was no heat given to the envelope. [As the balloon flew over a ditch and upward slope, it] encountered an updraft from the low level winds causing this accident." Photographs taken by witnesses show the balloon approaching power lines. Neither pilot had their hands on the burner control. When the balloon struck the power lines, the suspension cables were partially severed. The fuel line was completely severed and began spewing liquid propane, and the basket caught fire. The occupants and part of the basket fell to the ground. The envelope drifted off and was later recovered some 7 miles away from the power lines. The recorded winds at the time of the accident were from 130 degrees at 4 knots.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Low altitude operation/event during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Fire/smoke (post-impact) during post (impact)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Awareness of condition
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Flight crew
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Flight crew
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 610 hours in all; 4 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Injury: fatal
Crew member
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 645 hours in all; 72 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 631 as pilot in command; 140 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: None
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 92 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, October 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Fire in flight and on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Albuquerque NM at 1:00 pm
- Destination: NONE Albuquerque NM
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 2:56 pm from ABQ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N72KX the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.