Balloon Works AX9 accident near Cedar Crest, New Mexico, October 7, 1990
On October 7, 1990 at about 1:05 am local time, a Balloon Works AX9, registered N90240, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cedar Crest, New Mexico. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 5 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOT'S DELAYED PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AND THE SUBSEUQENT FUEL EXHAUSTION. A FACTOR WAS THE ENCOUNTER WITH HIGH WINDS IN FLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 7, 1990 · about 1:05 am local time
- Place
- Cedar Crest, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 5 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Balloon Works AX9
- Registration
- N90240 · no longer on the register · serial F9-012
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A BALLOON FLIGHT OVER THE CITY RESULTED IN THE BALLOON BEING CARRIED OVER THE SANDIA MOUNTAINS. THE PILOT SAID HE ENCOUNTERED WORSE WINDS AFTER CROSSING THE MOUNTAINS, AND ESTIMATED THE WINDS WERE 090 DEGREES AT 24, GUSTING TO 40 KNOTS. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A HIGH WIND LANDING AND STRUCK SEVERAL TREES. THE ENVELOPE, GONDOLA, AND SUSPENSION LINES WERE SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED, AND THE OCCUPANTS RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. THE PILOT FAILED TO REPORT THE ACCIDENT UNTIL THE FAA CONTACTED HIM. THE INVESTIGATION SHOWED THE BALLOON HAD NO FUEL LEFT TO CLIMB OR MANEUVER, MAKING THE HIGH WIND LANDING THE ONLY OPTION.
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: 670 hours in all; 670 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 670 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,285 lb
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Albuquerque NM at 11:30 pm
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 24 knots, gusting 40
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:52 pm from ABQ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.