Cameron Balloons A-210 accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, August 29, 2004
On August 29, 2004 at about 2:10 pm local time, a Cameron Balloons A-210, registered N4503V, was involved in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico (Albuquerque Intl airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 6 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the passenger losing her balance during the landing. Contributing to the accident was the increased wind velocity.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 29, 2004 · about 2:10 pm local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico · Albuquerque Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 6 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cameron Balloons A-210
- Registration
- N4503V · no longer on the register · serial 6363
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, the flight had been uneventful; however, the winds had increased in velocity. The winds according to the pilot, at the time of landing, were between 8 and 9 knots. During the landing, the ground crew grabbed the basket and assisted it down to the ground. One passenger fell forward during the landing, twisting her ankle and breaking it. No other anomalies were noted.
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: 3,850 hours in all; 584 in this make and model; 53 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 3,840 as pilot in command; 443 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 6, 2004
- Medical certificate: None
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 29.4 hours
- Last inspection: type not recorded, June 23, 2004; 29.4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine:; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ABQ Albuquerque NM at 12:50 pm
- Destination: ABQ Albuquerque NM
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observation at 3:56 pm from ABQ, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 5 |
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.