Thunder And Colt AX8-90 accident near Las Cruces, New Mexico, September 4, 1988
On September 4, 1988 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Thunder And Colt AX8-90 (balloon), registered N90EH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Las Cruces, New Mexico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 2 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
- September 4, 1988 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Las Cruces, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Thunder And Colt AX8-90
- Registration
- N90EH · registry record · serial 690
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERCIAL BALLOON PLT WAS PARTICIPATING IN A BALLOON RALLY. DURING LANDING, THE PLT NOTICED THE BALLOON WAS DRIFTING TOWARD POWER LINES. HE ELECTED TO OPEN THE DEFLATION VALVE AT 30 FT AGL, TO ATTEMPT TO LAND SHORT OF THE LINES. THE BALLOON TOUCHED DOWN 50 FT FROM THE LINES AND CONTINUED TO BE DRAGGED TOWARD THEM. THE BASKET CAME TO REST 30 FT FROM THE LINES, AND AS THE PASSENGERS DEPARTED THE BASKET, THE ENVELOPE CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE POWER LINES. THE PYROMETER CABLE CARRIED CURRENT DOWN TO THE BASKET INJURING ONE PASSENGER AND THE GROUND CREWMAN.
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: 548 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 540 as pilot in command; 18 on instruments
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 187 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 26, 1988; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 356 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 2:30 pm
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots, gusting 7
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.