Balloon Clips, Collapses KKOB Tower
• Cumulus News-Talk KKOB-AM & FM/Albuquerque, NM is down one AM tower after a hot air balloon — one of hundreds in the air over the city this time of year — struck and collapsed the tower last Friday during the 52nd annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, one of the world’s most photographed events, which draws hundreds of thousands of spectators each fall to New Mexico to enjoy the sight of more than 100 balloons in bright colors and special shapes.
The tower’s dramatic collapse was captured on video by local ABC affiliate KOAT and posted to YouTube.
The Aerostar International Inc. S-57A balloon, which had three people aboard, landed safely in a field after it struck the tower. Fortunately, there were no reports of injuries, said Kevin Carhart, a spokesperson for the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office. It was the second time in 20 years that a balloon had come into contact with that particular tower. According to KKOB’s long memory, “It was the Smokey Bear balloon that crashed into that same tower array 20 years ago yesterday, forcing a pilot and child to climb down the tower to safety.” The FAA is investigating the incident.
Given the sheer number of balloons aloft at the same time during the Fiesta, the odds of such collisions rise accordingly — earlier last week, another balloon bumped into a power line, leaving nearly 13,000 customers without power for almost an hour.
Here is an update from Jeff Berry, VP/Market Manager, Cumulus Albuquerque, telling RAMP, “Last Friday morning at approximately 8:30am, a hot air balloon that was participating in the 52nd Annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta accidentally clipped a radio tower that transmits Cumulus Media’s News-Talk KKOB-AM, causing the tower to collapse. Thankfully, no one was injured. KKOB-AM is broadcast by two towers, neither of which are owned by Cumulus Media, and the second tower was not hit. The collision has impacted KKOB’s AM signal, but News-Talk KKOB-FM’s broadcast was unaffected. The great news is that NewsRadio KKOB fans can continue to enjoy the legendary station at full power on the FM dial at 96.3.”
KKOB’s website has more video coverage and an array of downed tower photos.
