Skypower GBN-41-100 accident near Pecos, New Mexico, October 6, 1985
On October 6, 1985 at about 5:15 am local time, a Skypower GBN-41-100 (balloon), registered N59SP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pecos, New Mexico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 6, 1985 · about 5:15 am local time
- Place
- Pecos, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Skypower GBN-41-100
- Registration
- N59SP · registry record · serial 121
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
FLT WAS PARTICIPATION IN THE 1985 BALLOON FIESTA, A NIGHT HELIUM-FILLED BALLOON RACE FROM ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO, TO ELKHART, KANSAS. ONE HR AFTER LAUNCH PLT ENCOUNTERED SMALL WIND SHEAR, CAUSING LOSS OF ALTITUDE, BALLAST, AND HELIUM. PLT THEN ENCOUNTERED RAIN, SNOW, ICE AND SEVERE WIND SHEAR. ICE CAUSED BALLOON TO DESCEND. ALL BALLAST WAS THROWN OVERBOARD, AS WAS COMMUNICATIONS AND SURVIVAL EQUIPMENT. BALLOON CLEARED ONE PEAK BUT CRASHED INTO EAST SIDE OF PECOS-BALDY MOUNTAIN AT THE 10,900-FT LEVEL. PLTS WALKED OUT OF WILDERNESS AREA THE NEXT AFTERNOON WITH MINOR INJURIES AND FROSTBITE.
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: 16 in the last 90 days; 250 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (expired)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 16 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1985; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 800 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: None NONE (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Albuquerque NM at 1:15 am
- Destination: Elkhart KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 340° at 2 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 19°F (-7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 pm
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.