Head AX8 88B accident near Las Cruces, New Mexico, December 14, 2019
On December 14, 2019 at about 3:45 pm local time, a 2006 Head AX8 88B (balloon), registered N2224H, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Las Cruces, New Mexico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A burner flameout, which resulted in the pilot's inability to arrest the balloon’s descent and its subsequent impact with power lines as he was trying to relight the burner.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 14, 2019 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Las Cruces, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Head AX8 88B, built 2006
- Registration
- N2224H · registry record · serial 351
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, just after lifting off in the balloon, one of his passengers dropped to the bottom of the basket because he was afraid. After about 15 minutes of trying to get the passenger to relax, the pilot began looking for a place to land the balloon. The balloon was about 75 ft above ground level when the burner flamed out. While trying to relight the burner with a striker, the balloon descended and struck power lines, which severed four of the eight suspension cables attached to the basket. The balloon then impacted a building. According to the pilot, the burner had a history of flameouts, and he had experienced it many times. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › (general) › (general) › Not specified
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Attain/maintain not possible
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent rate › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 287.5 hours in all; 282.5 in this make and model; 5.5 in the last 90 days; 2.5 in the last 30 days; 287.5 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: none
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: none
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 300 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 5, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (none); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LRU Las Cruces NM at 3:15 pm
- Destination: LRU Las Cruces NM
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 2:45 pm from KLRU
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR20CA050.