Aerostar International Inc. S-60S accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, October 10, 2004
On October 10, 2004 at about 2:20 pm local time, a Aerostar International Inc. S-60S (balloon), registered N6377C, was involved in an accident near Albuquerque, 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
the passenger striking the pilot's leg during the landing, resulting in a fractured leg.
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 2:20 pm local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerostar International Inc. S-60S
- Registration
- N6377C · no longer on the register · serial S60S-3001
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, during a "stand-up" landing, the passenger fell inside the basket, and struck the pilot's leg. The pilot received a fractured lower 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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 312 hours in all; 253 in this make and model; 60 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 22, 2004
- Medical certificate: None
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 435 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 14, 2003; 41 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine:; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Albuquerque NM at 1:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 150 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 1:56 pm from KABQ, 9 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.