Aerostar SP-1 accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, October 10, 2004
On October 10, 2004 at about 2:25 pm local time, a Aerostar SP-1 (balloon), registered N87SB, was destroyed in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the radio tower. Contributing factors were the pilot's improper compensation for the variable wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 10, 2004 · about 2:25 pm local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerostar SP-1
- Registration
- N87SB · registry record · serial SP-1-3001
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Prior to launching the balloon, the pilot received a briefing which included weather information. After departure, the pilot flew south for approximately 20 minutes, climbed the balloon to 1,500 feet agl, and then flew to the north for 20 to 30 minutes. The balloon encountered a "gentle" breeze from the east, and the pilot decended the balloon to 300 feet agl, to find a safe landing area. The balloon encountered a breeze from the west which directed the balloon towards the original departure point. The pilot reported, "Suddenly, a strong gust from the east pushed [the balloon] west...toward the radio towers." The pilot searched for a landing area; however, several obstacles prevented an attempted landing. The pilot attempted to climb the balloon over the towers; however, the balloon impacted near the top of a 640-foot tall tower and came to rest entangled with the tower.
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: 1,159 hours in all; 1,142 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: None
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine:; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Albuquerque NM
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.