# Accident 20200918020289A: Ultramagic S A N-500, Peoria, AZ, September 18, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 18, 2020, 08:00 local time
- Place: Peoria, AZ
- Damage: No damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.7973° N, 112.2409° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7973&lon=-112.2409&mi=10
- Aircraft: N500UM, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N500UM) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Ultramagic S A N-500 (registry code 9130018, https://openairdocs.org/model/ultramagic-s-a-n-500) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ULTRAMAGIC S A N-500
- Reported engine: NONE NONE
- People aboard: 21
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 3
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 3,499 total, 174 in this make and model, 36 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR20LA333](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA333) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200918020289A

## Narrative

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

^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ LAUNCHED A HOT AIR BALLOON TOUR FROM AN OFF AIRPORT LOCATION NEAR NORTH VALLEY PARKWAY/DOVE VALLEY ROAD TO ANOTHER OFF AIRPORT LOCATION NEAR N LAKE PLEASANT PARKWAY/W CAREFREE HWY. THERE WERE 20 PASSENGERS AND 1 PILOT ONBOARD.  DURING APPROACH TO LANDING, THE HOT AIR BALLOON ENCOUNTERED UNFORECASTED LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR(LLWS). THE LLWS ACCELERATED THE BALLOON'S DESCENT RATE CAUSING IT TO TOUCHDOWN FASTER THAN PLANNED. THE BALLOON BASKET IMPACTED THE GROUND SIDEWAYS AND A PASSENGER WAS THROWN FROM THE BASKET WITH SEVERAL OTHERS BEING INJURED. THE BASKET BOUNCED SEVERAL MORE TIMES BEFORE COMING TO A STOP.

## 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 WPR20LA333](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA333), Sep 18, 2020: Ultramagic N500 (N500UM), Peoria, AZ, no damage. Probable cause: The balloon's encounter with unexpected windshear, which resulted in a hard landing and serious passenger injuries.

## Other reports on N500UM (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20210502005379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210502005379A), May 2, 2021: Ultramagic S A N-500 (N500UM), Phoenix, AZ, Minor damage. After changing the departure location due to winds, balloon departed on an approximate 45 minute flight. PIC was reported to police from passengers onboard…

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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