In its final report on the accident, the National Transportation Safety Board cited the drug use as a contributing factor. [Credit: Shutterstock]
Key Takeaways:
The NTSB concluded that a fatal June 2021 hot air balloon crash in Albuquerque, which killed five, was likely caused by the pilot's impairment from cannabis and cocaine.
The accident occurred when the balloon struck power lines during a landing attempt, causing the canopy to detach and the occupants to fall 75 feet.
In response to this and other incidents, the FAA has since mandated flight medicals for commercial balloon pilots and introduced a volunteer accreditation program.
Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on AVweb.
The National Transportation Safety Board [NTSB] says a balloon pilot was likely impaired by cannabis and cocaine when he and four passengers died in a sightseeing flight in Albuquerque in June of 2021.
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Russ Niles is Editor-in-Chief of AVweb. He has been a pilot for 30 years and joined AVweb 22 years ago. He and his wife Marni live in southern British Columbia where they also operate a small winery.
