Lindstrand Balloons 210S accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, October 7, 2005
On October 7, 2005 at about 1:45 pm local time, a Lindstrand Balloons 210S, registered N211LB, was involved in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico (Fiesta Field). It was an air show or air race flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 10 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the improper decision by the pilot to continue with the landing and the hard landing encountered by the pilot. Contributing to the accident were the high winds and the proper descent rate not being possible.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 7, 2005 · about 1:45 pm local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico · Fiesta Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 10 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Lindstrand Balloons 210S
- Registration
- N211LB · no longer on the register · serial 5236
- Damage
- Not recorded
- 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, the winds had increased prior to landing. During the landing, "the basket bounced on contact once and came to rest upright." One passenger complained of a sore wrist and 3 days later, x-rays revealed a broken bone in her arm. According to the passenger, the landing was rough and it was windy. She stated the basket bounced twice and she came forward, crushing her arm and hand between her body and the basket of the balloon.
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: 1,400 hours in all; 600 in this make and model
- Last flight review: May 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: None
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 306 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 1, 2005; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 11
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine:; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Albuquerque NM at 1:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,700 ft; a few clouds at 3,800 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.34 inHg
- Observation at 1:56 pm from ABQ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 9 |
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.