Lindstrand Balloons LBL accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, October 5, 2003
On October 5, 2003 at about 1:23 pm local time, a Lindstrand Balloons LBL, registered N994AF, was involved in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the inadequate in-flight planning/decision by the pilot. Contributing factors include the inadvertent activation of the deflation line by the pilot and the retaining wall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 5, 2003 · about 1:23 pm local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Lindstrand Balloons LBL
- Registration
- N994AF · no longer on the register · serial 104
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the passengers on board, the balloon was climbing when the pilot pulled the deflation line, releasing a flap at the top of the balloon. The balloon then descended rapidly striking terrain, bouncing, and then colliding with a retaining wall. The passengers were thrown to the floor of the balloon, seriously injuring two passengers. The pilot remained on his feet, re-inflated the balloon and continued the flight for an additional 20 to 30 minutes. Two passengers asked the pilot, after the collision, what had happened. The pilot replied, "He had pulled the wrong chord."
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 3,700 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 3,700 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 17, 2002
- Medical certificate: None
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 300 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2003
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Albuquerque NM at 1:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observation at 1:56 pm from ABQ, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.
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.