Thunder Balloons, Ltd. AX9-140 accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, October 3, 1982
On October 3, 1982 at about 3:47 pm local time, a Thunder Balloons, Ltd. AX9-140, registered N9606A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed, 3 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- October 3, 1982 · about 3:47 pm local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed, 3 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Thunder Balloons, Ltd. AX9-140
- Registration
- N9606A · no longer on the register · serial 317
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER WHAT WAS DESCRIBED AS A NORMAL LANDING LIQUID PROPANE BEGAN ESCAPING. THE PROPANE VAPORIZED & WAS IGNITED ENGULFING THE GONDOLA IN FLAMES. FOUR PAX EXITED THE GONDOLA WHILE IT WAS STILL ON THE GROUND & THE LAST SURVIVOR EXITEDAT ABOUT 25 FT AS THE BALLOON BEGAN RISING. THE REMAINING 4 PAX BEGAN JUMPING OR FALLING FROM THE GONDOLA AT ABOUT 100 FT WITH THE LAST EXITING AT AN ESTIMATED 600 FT AGL. THE BALLOON CONTINUED TO RISE & AT ABOUT 1,000 FT TWO PROPANE TANKS EXPLODED. THE OWNER/PILOT HAD INSTALLED 6 PROPANE CYLINDERS. A PORTION OF ONE TEE FITTING WAS DETERMINED TO BE BRASS, & ACCORDING TO A METALLURGICAL REPORT THE HOSES USED TO MANIFOLD THE PROPANE CYLINDERS WERE DETERMINED TO BE RUBBER COVERED BY A WOVEN FABRIC. ONLY CADIUM PLATED STEEL FITTINGS & WIRE MESH REINFORCED HOSES WERE RECOMMENDED BY THUNDER BALLOONS,LTD. & AT NO TIME WOULD BRASS FITTINGS & NON-WIRE MESH HOSES BE RECOMMENDED BY THEM.
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: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 65 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 60 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 62 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,506 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
- Fire in flight and on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Albuquerque NM at 7:50 am
- Destination: Albuquerque NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 154°F (68°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 | 2 | 1 | 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.
Other NTSB records under N9606A the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.