N980VA is a 2022 Cameron Balloons Us A-225 (balloon) with serial number 6968, registered in Albuquerque, NM. Its FAA registration is valid and runs until Feb 28, 2030; the renewal window opens on Aug 28, 2029. Its airworthiness certificate is in the standard class (balloon), issued Sep 27, 2022. It is one of 9 A-225 aircraft in the FAA registry, 3 of them registered in New Mexico. The NTSB accident database lists 2 records for this airframe since 2008, the latest on Nov 24, 2025.
Registration
- FAA status
- Valid registration
- Expires
- Feb 28, 2030
- Registrant type
- Corporation
- Registered owner
- RAINBOW RYDERS INC
- Location
- Albuquerque, NM
- Local FAA office (FSDO)
- Albuquerque FSDO (ABQ FSDO) · (505) 764-1200
- Certificate issued
- Feb 14, 2023
- Last FAA action
- Mar 24, 2023
- Mode S code (hex)
- ADAD00
- Mode S code (octal)
- 53326400
- Official record
- registry.faa.gov
Aircraft
Public airports near Albuquerque
| Airport | ID | Distance | Tower | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque International Sunport Albuquerque, NM | KABQ | 5 mi | Towered | 100LL, A, A1, A1+ |
| Double Eagle II Albuquerque, NM | KAEG | 9 mi | Towered | 100LL, A1 |
| Mid Valley Airpark Los Lunas, NM | E98 | 24 mi | Non-towered | 100LL |
Straight-line distance from the registration city, from the FAA airport directory (NASR). The registry does not say where an aircraft is based.
NTSB accident and incident records
| Date | Place | Aircraft (as NTSB recorded it) | Damage | Highest injury | NTSB no. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 24, 2025 | Albuquerque, NM | Cameron Balloons Us A-225 this airframe | - | Serious | WPR26LA052 |
| Sep 15, 2025 | Albuquerque, NM | Cameron Balloons Us A-225 this airframe | - | Serious | WPR25LA284 |
From the NTSB aviation accident database (events since 2008, data through Sep 29, 2026), matched by N-number. An N-number can move between aircraft, so each row is checked against the serial number on the current registration.