Cameron Balloons N-210 accident near Rio Rancho, New Mexico, June 13, 2001
On June 13, 2001 at about 1:35 pm local time, a Cameron Balloons N-210, registered N7507V, was involved in an accident near Rio Rancho, New Mexico. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 5 people had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadvertent weather encounter with wind shear, and the resulting inability to maintain the proper landing descent rate, which resulted in a hard landing. A factor was the high wind weather condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 13, 2001 · about 1:35 pm local time
- Place
- Rio Rancho, New Mexico
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 5 people had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cameron Balloons N-210
- Registration
- N7507V · no longer on the register · serial 5808
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot received weather information from several sources beginning at 0300 that morning. Additionally, he obtained wind data from a remote sensor northwest of Rio Rancho and from another near Sandia Peak. The forecast he received indicated winds from 200 degrees at 8 knots till 1000 and then changing to 250 degrees at 13 knots gusting to 22 knots. He launched a pibal to check the current wind speed at the launch site and he determined it was "favorable." He launched with eight passengers on board and when he first checked his airspeed it was 4 knots. After climbing over a mesa, he noted that his airspeed had increased to 8 knots and was increasing. At that point of the flight, there were no favorable landing sites. He found a suitable landing site of open desert and briefed the passengers on high wind landing procedures. The pilot said that as the balloon descended, it passed through a wind shear zone with surface winds up to 30 knots. The winds on the lower half of the balloon created a false heavy and the pilot could not slow the excessive descent. After impact, the balloon skidded approximately 100 yards before its envelope could be deflated and the balloon stopped. During the landing, one passenger broke an 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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: balloon; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 6,000 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 6,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 6, 2002
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 660 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 29, 2000; 36 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 9
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine:; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Rio Rancho NM
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observation at 1:56 pm from ABQ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 5 | 2 |
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 N7507V 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.