# Accident 20210123005539A: Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 77A, Rio Rancho, NM, January 23, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 23, 2021, 09:10 local time
- Place: Rio Rancho, NM
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.3683° N, 106.6730° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3683&lon=-106.6730&mi=10
- Aircraft: N477LB, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N477LB) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 77A (registry code 5190005, https://openairdocs.org/model/arbc-inc-dba-lindstrand-77a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ARBC INC DBA LINDSTRAND 77A
- Reported engine: NONE NONE
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 333 total, 333 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR21LA158](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA158) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210123005539A

## Narrative

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

ON 23 JANUARY 2021, AT APPROXIMATELY 0910 MDT, A 2006 LINDSTRAND 77A LIGHTER THAN AIR BALLOON, N477LB, REGISTERED TO ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, EXPERIENCED A HIGH-SPEED, HARD LANDING ON THE DESSERT MESA NORTHWEST OF ALBUQUERQUE, NM, NEAR RIO RANCHO, NM. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME, AND A VFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED. THE BALLOON SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE, AND THE FAA CERTIFICATED PRIVATE

PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. THE SINGLE PASSENGER SUFFERED SERIOUS BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA AFTER BEING EJECTED FROM THE BASKET DURING THE LANDING PHASE OF FLIGHT, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS DEATH A SHORT TIME LATER THAT MORNING. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM A LAUNCH AREA IN RIO RANCHO, NM, AT APPROXIMATELY 0800 MDT.

## 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 WPR21LA158](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA158), Jan 23, 2021: Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 77A (N477LB), Rio Rancho, NM, no damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain the proper descent rate during the balloon’s approach to landing, which resulted in a hard landing and fatal passenger injury when the passenger fell out of the basket.

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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