# Accident 20260502003899A: Cameron Balloons US C-80, Rio Rancho, NM, May 2, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 2, 2026, 08:00 local time
- Place: Rio Rancho, NM
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.2334° N, 106.6645° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Rio Rancho, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2334&lon=-106.6645&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4022X, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4022X) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cameron Balloons US C-80 (registry code 1880224, https://openairdocs.org/model/cameron-balloons-us-c-80) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CAMERON BALLOONS US C-80
- Reported engine: NONE NONE
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 90 total
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260502003899A

## Narrative

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

THE STUDENT PILOT WHO OWNS THE BALLOON PLANNED AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT WITH A CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI).

THE CFI BECAME UNAVAILABLE.

THE BALLOON OWNER ASKED ANOTHER PILOT TO FLY THE BALLOON WITH HER AS A PASSENGER.

THEY HAD A SMOOTH EARLY MORNING LAUNCH.

THE PILOT FLEW THE BALLOON TO AN OPEN AREA TO DEMONSTRATE A STEEP APPROACH.

AS THEY PREPARED TO LAND, THE PASSENGER BRACED HERSELF BY HOLDING ONTO ONE OF THE UPRIGHTS WITH AN EXTENDED ARM.

THE BALLOON LANDED WITHOUT ANY ISSUES.

AFTER LANDING, THE PILOT BEGAN TO DEMONSTRATE "GROUND TRACKING" OR SKIMMING ALONG THE GROUND.

THE PASSENGER STAYED IN HER BRACE POSITION DURING THE DEMONSTRATION.

WHILE SKIMMING, THE BASKET HIT SOME BRUSH AND STARTED TO BOUNCE.

THE IMPACT OF THE SECOND BOUNCE CAUSED THE UPRIGHT THE PASSENGER WAS HOLDING USING TO BRACE TO BREAK.

DURING THIS, THE PASSENGER FRACTURED HER LEFT UPPER ARM.

THE PASSENGER CRIED OUT IN PAIN, ALERTING THE PILOT.

THE PILOT QUICKLY LANDED THE BALLOON BY TURNING OFF THE BURNER AND PULLING THE RIP CORD.

## NTSB investigation

None matched to this report by aircraft and date. Search the NTSB's own records: https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/basic-search

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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