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NTSB: Balloon pilot's use of drugs contributed to 2021 crash that killed 5
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Federal investigators said a hot air balloon pilot’s use of “impairing, illicit drugs” contributed to his crashing into power lines and killing himself and four others on board in 2021.
The National Transportation Safety Board released its final report Wednesday, more than two years after the June 26 crash on Albuquerque’s West Side that killed longtime balloon pilot Nick Meleski, 62, Susan and John Montoya, 65 and 61, and Martin and Mary Martinez, 62 and 59.
The NTSB found Meleski failed to maintain clearance of the power lines while trying to land, leading to the crash, according to the report. The agency said Meleski had used cannabis “within the last few hours” of the crash and also recently had used cocaine — and the impairment “likely contributed” to the crash.
“A postaccident examination of the balloon revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation,” according to the report.
Kristelle Siarza, a spokesperson for the Meleski family, said in a statement, “We cannot express the depth of our grief and sadness for the pain this accident has caused — our hearts go out to the families and loved ones of the passengers.”
“We want to also thank the entire hot air ballooning community of New Mexico and across the world,” the statement read. “The outpouring of love and support has been overwhelming and we continue to grieve with you. Nick loved this community so dearly, and our family will continue to support the sport any way we can.”
Siarza did not address the report’s findings.
It was the deadliest balloon crash in the history of New Mexico, a state renowned for its ballooning and home to one of the world’s premier balloon festivals.
Those on board were well known in the community.
Martin Martinez was a retired Albuquerque police officer and, at the time, worked as a sergeant for Albuquerque Public Schools. His wife, Mary, was well known as she taught Zumba classes at senior centers and served as a sort of role model for many of the women who attended.
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Susan Montoya was an assistant principal at Georgia O’ Keefe Elementary School. Her husband, John, was an educational assistant in special education at Sandia High School.
And Meleski was known by fellow pilots for his flying acumen and big personality. He was a regular fixture at the city’s Balloon Fiesta. He trained other pilots and logged thousands of flying hours, including in far-flung places such as India and Malaysia.
Meleski was taking the couples on a sightseeing flight that Susan Montoya’s coworkers had bought for her. She invited her husband and their friends, the Martinezes, to come along.
The NTSB report said that, around 7 a.m., after an hour-long “uneventful flight,” Meleski was maneuvering the balloon to land in an open field near Central and Unser. Surveillance video showed the balloon beginning to climb before descending into the power lines, which were about 80 feet high.
The balloon hit the high-voltage line and an arc of electricity appeared before the balloon envelope separated from the basket, which plummeted to the ground with the five people inside. Meleski, the Martinezes and Susan Montoya were pronounced dead at the scene, while John Montoya died soon after at a hospital.
The report said the balloon envelope was found outside of a person’s home a half-mile away.
According to court records, at least two wrongful death lawsuits were filed by the families of Martin Martinez and John Montoya against Meleski, an employee of Hot Air Balloonatics LLC and one of the organizers of Sventato LLC — “sventato” an Italian word meaning rash, reckless or scatterbrained.
Attorney Michael Sievers, who represented John Montoya’s family, said they settled the case for $100,000, the maximum available amount from the balloon company’s insurance.
“These balloon companies are not really required to have much insurance, so when people go on rides ... if they get hurt, there’s a very limited amount of insurance that will be available to compensate them,” Sievers said.
Sievers added, in Meleski’s case, “It seems like the balloon company should have vetted their employees better.”
It is unclear what became of the lawsuit by the Martinez family, and an attorney could not be reached.
