# Accident 20180328014659A: Ultramagic Sa N-300, Cave Creek, AZ, March 28, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 28, 2018, 08:15 local time
- Place: Cave Creek, AZ
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.7981° N, 112.0064° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7981&lon=-112.0064&mi=10
- Aircraft: N64EX, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N64EX-2019-02-23) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Ultramagic N-300 (registry code 9130013, https://openairdocs.org/model/ultramagic-n-300) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ULTRAMAGIC SA N-300
- Reported engine: N/A N/A
- People aboard: 14
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA18CA185](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA185) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180328014659A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

A HOT AIR BALLOON OPERATED BY HOT AIR EXPEDITIONS, WHICH DESCRIBES ITSELF AS A ?BALLOON RIDE TOUR AGENCY? CAUGHT FIRE WHEN ITS 13AERONAUTS WHO HAD PAID HOT AIR EXPEDITIONS FOR A ONE-HOUR FLIGHT WERE EXITING THE BASKET.  THE PILOT SAID AFTER 65 TO 70 MINUTES OF FLIGHT, THAT DURING THE LANDING, THE BALLOON SKIDDED UP AGAINST A TREE SUCH THAT THE TREE BRANCHES PUSHED THE BALLOON ENVELOPE INWARD.

TO PREVENT THE ENVELOPE FROM DRAPING OVER THE TREE AS IT DEFLATED THE PILOT ACTIVATED THE BURNER. THE HEAT CREATED A HOLE IN THE FABRIC WHERE THE TREE WAS PRESSING AGAINST THE ENVELOPE. DUE TO THE HOLE AND HEAT, THE PROTRUDING BRANCHES CAUGHT FIRE. THE ENSUING FIRE FROM THE BRANCHES CONSUMED APPROXIMATELY 25% OF THE ENVELOPE, ASSOCIATED RIGGING AND SPREAD TO THE BASKET.

THE PILOT SAID THAT HE WAS SURPRISED WHEN THE ENVELOPE CAUGHT FIRE AND THAT HE ?MAY HAVE BEEN COMPLACENT? WHILE ACTIVATING THE BURNER WITH THE FLAME AIMED AT THE INTRUDING PORTION OF THE ENVELOPE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB GAA18CA185](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA185), Mar 28, 2018: Ultramagic N 300 (N64EX), Cave Creek, AZ, destroyed. Probable cause: The balloon pilot’s decision to add heat to the envelope with a tree branch protruding into the envelope that caught fire.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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