Lindstrand Balloons 120A accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, July 11, 2004
On July 11, 2004 at about 1:00 pm local time, a Lindstrand Balloons 120A, registered N410LB, was involved in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain/obtain the proper descent rate.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 11, 2004 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Lindstrand Balloons 120A · all 120As on the register
- Registration
- N410LB · no longer on the register · serial 5190
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the landing, the balloon impacted the ground hard and tipped over. Two passengers from one side of the balloon fell on top of two passengers on the other side of the balloon causing serious injury to two passengers.
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: 358 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 358 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 22, 2003
- Medical certificate: None
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 197.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 14, 2004; 36 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,640 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine:; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Albuquerque NM at 12:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 13,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observation at 12:56 pm from ABQ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.
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.