Thunder And Colt CLOWN accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, October 14, 1989
On October 14, 1989 at about 2:45 pm local time, a Thunder And Colt CLOWN (balloon), registered GGWIZ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
STRUCTURAL FAILURE OF THE BALLOON ENVELOPE AS A RESULT OF THE MANUFACTURER'S QUALITY CONTROL OVERSIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 14, 1989 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Thunder And Colt CLOWN
- Registration
- GGWIZ · no longer on the register · serial 1369
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS OPERATING HIS HOT AIR BALLOON IN A BALLOON FIESTA WITH 3 PASSENGERS (PAX). THE BALLOON WAS SHAPED LIKE A 138 FT TALL, STANDING CLOWN, WITH THE RIGHT ARM RAISED TO HEAD LEVEL. THE ARM IS DESIGNED TO WAVE WHEN THE PLT PULLED A CONTROL LINE. THE PLT SAID THAT DURING THE ASCENT, AT 20 FT AGL, THE BALLOON ENVELOPE BEGAN TO TEAR. HE SAID THE RIP CONTINUED UNTIL IT WAS 47 FT LONG, VERTICALLY. A WITNESS SAID THAT THE LOSS OF HOT AIR RESULTED IN A GENTLE UNCONTROLLED DESCENT, AND THE BALLOON LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER DAMAGE OR INJURY. A POST-ACDNT INSPECTION REVEALED THAT DURING THE FIRST ARM CONTROL INPUTS, THE KELVAR CONTROL LINE PULLED LOOSE FROM AN ATTACHED 'D' RING, TORE A GROMMET LOOSE & SAWED THE FABRIC. RPRTDLY, THERE WERE NO LOAD TAPES INSTALLED IN THE AREA OF THE ARM/TORSO JUNCTURE.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 650 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 15 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, May 12, 1989; 15 hours since
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 2:45 pm
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 pm from ABQ, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.