Aerostar S-66A accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, October 11, 1987
On October 11, 1987 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Aerostar S-66A (balloon), registered N64547, was involved in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured; 4 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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 11, 1987 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured; 4 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerostar S-66A
- Registration
- N64547 · no longer on the register · serial S66A-3010
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
UPON LANDING, THE BALLOON TOUCHED DOWN ON A GRAVEL ROAD AND BOUNCED OVER A SMALL DEPRESSION. THE BASKET STRUCK A SMALL MOUND AND THREW THREE OF THE SIX PASSENGERS AGAINST THE RAIL OF THE BASKET. THE OTHER PASSENGERS FELL AGAINST THEM AND THE THREE WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED. THERE WERE NO OTHER INJURIES. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE BALLOON OR BASKET.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 170 hours in all; 170 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 150 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 92 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 25, 1986; 92 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Unknown UNKNOWN (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 360° at 8 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 | 3 |
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.