Lindstrand Balloons 90A accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, October 10, 2012
On October 10, 2012 at about 2:55 pm local time, a Lindstrand Balloons 90A, registered N6061R, was involved in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The balloon pilot's encounter with higher-than-expected wind velocity, which resulted in a hard landing and passenger injury.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 10, 2012 · about 2:55 pm local time · cases in 2012
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Lindstrand Balloons 90A · all 90As on the register
- Registration
- N6061R · no longer on the register · serial 5124
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Before the flight, the pilot participated in a weather briefing provided by the event organization. Due to high wind velocities at low level, the balloon launch was postponed for about 1 hour and then approval to launch was granted by event personnel. At the conclusion of the flight, the pilot initiated an approach to a standard event landing field. During the approach, the wind was at a higher velocity than expected. The pilot briefed the passenger for a fast drag and hard landing. The balloon landed hard and dragged for about 150 feet. The passenger sustained a fractured arm. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failure with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Other weather encounter during approach
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Attain/maintain not possible
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › High wind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 794 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 794 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 31, 2011
- Medical certificate: None
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 257 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 20, 2012
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: Albuquerque NM at 1:35 pm
- Destination: Albuquerque NM
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 185° at 17 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
1 document, released by the NTSB on November 26, 2012. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N6061R: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Lindstrand Balloons 90 79 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Lindstrand Balloons 252 aircraft on the register
- Accidents and incidents in New Mexico 1,423 since 1982 · 184 in the last ten years
- New Mexico 3,114 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN13CA035.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.