Aerostar RX-8 accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, October 8, 1989
On October 8, 1989 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Aerostar RX-8 (balloon), registered N3581D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF AN UNSUITABLE AREA (TERRAIN) FOR LANDING. THE STATIC CABLE & POWER LINE WERE CONSIDERED TO BE RELATED FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 8, 1989 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerostar RX-8
- Registration
- N3581D · registry record · serial 3023
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 80 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 80 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 20 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 28, 1989; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 12 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.
Other NTSB records under N3581D the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.