Eagle Balloons Corp. C-7 accident near Rio Rancho, New Mexico, July 1, 2003
On July 1, 2003 at about 1:45 pm local time, a Eagle Balloons Corp. C-7, registered N360E, was involved in an accident near Rio Rancho, 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
a hard landing for undetermined reasons. Factors relating to the accident were the unfavorable winds and landing on hilly terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 2003 · about 1:45 pm local time
- Place
- Rio Rancho, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Eagle Balloons Corp. C-7
- Registration
- N360E · registry record · serial E81707
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that when the balloon took off, the winds were calm. He reported on landing they were approximately 10 knots. The pilot said he made a stand-up landing on hilly terrain. The pilot reported that the landing was a hard landing, but was not one of the hardest landings he'd experienced. During the landing, the passenger suffered a compound fracture in her lower left leg.
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: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Last flight review: August 8, 2001
- Medical certificate: None
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: Rio Rancho NM at 1:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 14,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observation at 1:56 pm from ABQ, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.