Thunder And Colt AX8-90 accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, October 13, 2001
On October 13, 2001 at about 2:10 pm local time, a Thunder And Colt AX8-90 (balloon), registered N407TC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the obstacles during landing. A contributing factor was the gusty winds.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 13, 2001 · about 2:10 pm local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Thunder And Colt AX8-90
- Registration
- N407TC · registry record · serial 2158USA
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The balloon struck vehicles and poles during landing in gusty wind conditions. The envelope received multiple tears, and the basket received light scrapes. The weather observation facility reported the wind from 130 degrees at 13 knots gusting to 18 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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 427 hours in all; 247 in this make and model
- Last flight review: June 10, 2000
- Medical certificate: None
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 289.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 16, 2001; 11.2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,900 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine:; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Albuquerque NM at 2:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 13 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 9°F (-13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 1:56 pm from ABQ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.