Aerostar International Inc S81A accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, October 10, 2001
On October 10, 2001 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Aerostar International Inc S81A (balloon), registered N52760, suffered minor damage in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 10 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the selection of an unsuitable landing area by the pilot. A contributing factor was the high wind during the landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 10, 2001 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 10 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerostar International Inc S81A
- Registration
- N52760 · no longer on the register · serial S81A-3009
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot attempted a landing to an asphalt parking lot, which contained a small building and automobiles. The balloon basket touched down and dragged along the asphalt approximately 60-80 feet. The balloon and basket impacted the small building and a powerline. Upon impact with the building, one passenger sustained a fractured shoulder. The pilot stated the wind at the time of the landing was approximately 10-12 knots.
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: 2,874 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 2,874 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 6, 2001
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 248 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 4, 2001; 39 hours since
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Aero Engines; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Albuquerque NM at 1:45 pm
- Destination: Albuquerque
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 315° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 9 |
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.