Worner Balloon Works NL-1000 accident near Chama, New Mexico, October 3, 2004
On October 3, 2004 at about 5:20 pm local time, a Worner Balloon Works NL-1000, registered DOYES, was destroyed in an accident near Chama, New Mexico. It was an air show or air race flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the lightning strike and subsequent failure of the balloon's envelope, resulting in an uncontrolled descent and impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 3, 2004 · about 5:20 pm local time
- Place
- Chama, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Worner Balloon Works NL-1000
- Registration
- DOYES · no longer on the register · serial 1064
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Air show or air race flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, while participating in an endurance competition, he heard a "loud" bang and saw a "flash." He then noticed a large "L" shaped tear in the balloon's envelope as the balloon began to descend "rapidly." The balloon impacted mountainous terrain at an elevation of 8,000 feet. The pilot and passenger each sustained a broken ankle.
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: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 1,200 hours in all; 301 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: September 12, 2004
- Medical certificate: None
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 250 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: Albuquerque NM at 2:20 am
- Destination: Albuquerque NM
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 310° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.40 inHg
- Observation at 5:35 pm from KSKX, 47 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.