Aerostar International S66A-3060 accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, May 17, 2003
On May 17, 2003 at about 1:40 pm local time, a Aerostar International S66A-3060 (balloon), registered N7179Z, was involved in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico (The Gravel Pit airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 4 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during a high wind landing, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing factors include the high wind and the berm.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 17, 2003 · about 1:40 pm local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico · The Gravel Pit · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 4 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerostar International S66A-3060
- Registration
- N7179Z · no longer on the register · serial S66A-3060
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that, at 100 feet above ground level, his GPS indicated a ground speed of 15 mph. As he was getting ready to land, he noticed that the GPS was indicating 18 mph. He briefed his passengers and prepared them for a "high wind" landing. As the balloon hit the ground, the GPS was indicating 12 mph. The pilot pulled the deflation vent and the balloon's envelope began to collapse. The balloon slid a few feet and the basket struck a 2 foot high berm. The basket tipped over and the balloon slid another 70 feet. The balloon was not damaged; however during the impact, one passenger injured her knee and a second passenger suffered 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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 1,675 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 1,640 as pilot in command; 183 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 16, 2002
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 61.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2003; 5.2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: Albuquerque NM at 12:45 pm
- Destination: Albuquerque NM
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 | 3 |
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 N7179Z 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.