Aerostar International INC S-60A accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, May 25, 2009
On May 25, 2009 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Aerostar International INC S-60A (balloon), registered N120RB, was involved in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 4 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's excessive descent rate.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 25, 2009 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 4 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerostar International INC S-60A · all S-60As on the register
- Registration
- N120RB · no longer on the register · serial S60A-3075
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On a scenic balloon flight with four passengers, the pilot located a clear area to land the balloon. As the pilot maneuvered the balloon to the area, the wind the pilot was expecting did not materialize and the pilot picked an alternate site. In order to remain clear of obstacles, the pilot "vented" the balloon "and had a hard landing." During the landing, one of the passengers sustained a broken ankle.
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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › (general) › (general) › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent rate › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 430 hours in all; 41 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 382 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 15, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 154 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 13, 2009
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: Albuquerque NM at 1:15 pm
- Destination: Albuquerque NM
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 3 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN09LA318.