Barnes AX-7 accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, July 4, 1982
On July 4, 1982 at about 2:15 pm local time, a Barnes AX-7 (balloon), registered N2045F, was involved in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 1982 · about 2:15 pm local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Barnes AX-7
- Registration
- N2045F · no longer on the register · serial 738
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED SHE MADE A PRACTICE LANDING NEAR A LARGE HILL AND HAD NO PROBLEMS LANDING. SHE CONTINUED FLIGHT FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES AND PREPARED TO LAND ON A ROAD.THE BALLOON IMPACTED A ROAD EMBANKMENT AT TOUCHDOWN AND THE PILOT BROKE HER LEG. SHE STATED THE GROUND WAS "NOT THAT BAD" AND "THE PROBLEM WAS THE WAY I HAD MYSELF BRACED IN THE GONDOLA."
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: student
- Flight time: 45 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 155 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Albuquerque NM
- Destination: Albuquerque NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 4 knots
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 160°F (71°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
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.