Event CEN13LA032

Factual narrative

On October 10, 2012, about 0850 mountain daylight time, an Aerostar International Inc, RX 8, N90550, experienced a high wind landing and impact with a fence near Albuquerque, New Mexico, during the International Balloon Fiesta 2012. The balloon sustained substantial damage to the basket and envelope. The private pilot was uninjured and two passengers sustained minor injuries. The balloon was registered to and operated by an individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan had not been filed for the flight that departed from the Balloon Fiesta Field (AIBF), near Albuquerque, New Mexico, about 0800. The pilot stated that after attending a mandatory pilot briefing at AIBF, the balloon was launched with the first wave of balloons. About 45 minutes after the launch, an approach for landing was made near the Frito Lay Distribution Center where the pilot found the winds were faster than forecasted. The balloon descended from a "quicker" wind layer and the pilot found the balloon unresponsive in attempts to level out and land the balloon just south of a fenced area; however, the balloon impacted the fence. The pilot believed that there was a rotor type wind coming off a higher area to the east. The balloon experienced a false heavy, and the balloon became unresponsive, forcing it into the fence. The wind pushed the balloon further west and hampered the location of the intended landing. There were east/west power lines near the north side of the Frito Lay Distribution Center. The area south of fence was a field that did not contain any structure for about 300 feet. The southern edge of the field was delineated by at an east/west road. The were also other buildings south of the east/west road. After attending a mandatory preflight briefing at a balloon festival, the pilot launched his balloon with the first group of balloons to launch. During an approach for landing in a field, the balloon encountered stronger-than-expected wind. The approach to the landing crossed power lines, a commercial building, and a fence. The pilot stated that as the balloon approached the field, it became unresponsive and impacted the fence; he thought that the balloon encountered a "false heavy," or wind shear, which resulted in a loss of lift. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Descent/approach/glide path-Not attained/maintained - C
• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
• — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-High wind-Ability to respond/compensate
• — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Fence/fence post-Not specified