# NTSB investigations, NM: Hard landing

NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports.

## Latest cases

- [NTSB WPR26LA339](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA339.md): Cirrus Design SR22T · Santa Teresa, NM · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Investigation open · Sep 10, 2026 · N615LT · Substantial damage
- [NTSB WPR26LA052](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA052.md): Cameron Balloons US A-225 · Albuquerque, NM · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Nov 24, 2025 · N980VA · No damage
  > The balloon landing in increased wind, and the pilot’s inability to maintain the proper descent rate, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB WPR26LA039](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA039.md): Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 77A · Rio Rancho, NM · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Nov 9, 2025 · N614LB · No damage
  > An inadvertent hard landing in high wind conditions resulting in serious injury of one of the pilots.
- [NTSB WPR25LA242](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA242.md): Champion 7FC · Moriarty, NM · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 31, 2025 · N50778 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB WPR25LA207](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA207.md): Cessna 182B · Belen, NM · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report · Jul 4, 2025 · N7166E · Substantial damage
  > On July 4, 2025, about 0900 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 182B, N7166E, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Belen, New Mexico. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of…
- [NTSB WPR25LA101](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA101.md): Hughes OH-6A · Santa Teresa, NM · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Feb 22, 2025 · N4191T · Substantial damage
  > The flight instructor's failure to maintain helicopter control during a practice autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing and structural damage to the tail boom and subsequent failure of the tail rotor drive system.
- [NTSB WPR24LA128](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA128.md): Bearhawk 4-Place · Buckhorn, NM · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Apr 20, 2024 · N1685 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inflight loss of control during landing following an encounter with a wind gust which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB WPR24LA058](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA058.md): Cessna 172P · Las Cruces, NM · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Nov 27, 2023 · N5495K · Substantial damage
  > An encounter with a downdraft during an approach to land, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB WPR24LA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA019.md): Cameron Balloons U S A-315 · Albuquerque, NM · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Oct 14, 2023 · N315RR · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inability to maintain control of the balloon during landing due to unforecasted windshear and turbulent air.
- [NTSB WPR24LA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA011.md): Cameron Balloons US A-105 · Albuquerque, NM · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Oct 8, 2023 · N105BM · No damage
  > A hard landing to a short field, due to windy conditions and a lack of suitable alternate landing areas, which resulted in a passenger sustaining a broken ankle.
- [NTSB WPR23LA327](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA327.md): Cessna 310Q · Santa Fe, NM · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 27, 2023 · N117TC · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s improper landing flare following an unstable approach, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB WPR23LA365](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA365.md): Cessna R172E · Alamogordo, NM · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 28, 2023 · N7881N · Substantial damage
  > Failure of the pilot to maintain control of the airplane during the landing.
- [NTSB WPR23LA230](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA230.md): Vans RV6A · Mimbres, NM · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 11, 2023 · N60605 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inflight loss of control while landing with wind gusts that resulted in a hard landing and subsequent nose over.
- [NTSB WPR23LA209](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA209.md): Pipistrel Doo Ajdovscina Virus SW · Santa Fe, NM · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · May 30, 2023 · N69PV · Substantial damage
  > An encounter with a downdraft during landing that resulted in a hard landing and the pilot’s loss of control.
- [NTSB WPR23LA062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA062.md): Cessna 172N · Socorro, NM · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Dec 10, 2022 · N422B · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard bounced landing and loss of control in gusting wind.
- [NTSB WPR22LA368](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA368.md): Firefly Balloons Firefly 8B-15 · Las Cruces, NM · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Sep 4, 2022 · N7067F · No damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain the proper descent rate during the balloon’s approach to landing, which resulted in a hard landing and serious passenger injury.
- [NTSB WPR22LA010](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA010.md): Richardson Andrew P RICHARDSON-75 · Alburquerque, NM · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Oct 5, 2021 · N518UR · No damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain the proper descent rate during the balloon’s approach to landing, which resulted in a hard landing and serious passenger injury.
- [NTSB WPR21LA158](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA158.md): Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 77A · Rio Rancho, NM · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jan 23, 2021 · N477LB · No damage
  > 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.
- [NTSB WPR20CA272](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA272.md): Aerostar International RX 8 · Albuquerque, NM · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report · Aug 15, 2020 · N900FC · No damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain the proper descent rate during the balloon’s approach to a high-wind landing, which resulted in a hard landing and serious passenger injury.
- [NTSB WPR20CA185](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA185.md): Vans RV 6 · Clovis, NM · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report · Jun 17, 2020 · N1407W · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper landing flare which resulted in a hard, bounced landing, and subsequent runway excursion. Contributing to the accident was the airplane’s aft center of gravity at the time of the accident.
- [NTSB GAA20CA012](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA012.md): Aerostar International RX 7 · Rio Rancho, NM · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 7, 2019 · N9126K · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate descent rate during landing, which resulted in a hard landing and a postaccident fire.
- [NTSB GAA19CA335](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA335.md): Cessna 421 · Moriarty, NM · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 9, 2019 · N421WL · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper landing flare in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB CEN19LA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA067.md): Bell 47G · Belen, NM · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jan 11, 2019 · N3755Z · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate main rotor speed while the helicopter was in an out-of-ground effect hover.
- [NTSB GAA19CA116](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA116.md): Beech 24 · Edgewood, NM · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jan 4, 2019 · N6588R · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in hard, bounced landing, loss of directional control, runway excursion, and impact with a fence and terrain during an attempted go-around.
- [NTSB GAA18CA571](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA571.md): Eurocopter AS350 · Ruidoso, NM · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Sep 29, 2018 · N894NA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain the proper descent rate during landing. Contributing to the accident were the pilot’s failure to conduct preflight performance calculations, which resulted in his operating the helicopter in high-density altitude conditions,…
- [NTSB GAA18CA112](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA112.md): Cessna 172 · Silver City, NM · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jan 26, 2018 · N1046F · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot’s improper landing flare in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing.
- [NTSB CEN18LA006](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA006.md): Cameron N-105 · Albuquerque, NM · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 7, 2017 · N29922 · No damage
  > The steep approach and hard landing after the balloon encountered unexpected high wind conditions, which resulted in a serious injury to a passenger.
- [NTSB GAA17CA357](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA357.md): Bellanca 7GCBC · Edgewood, NM · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 21, 2017 · N88237 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's decision to take off with a gusting tailwind, which resulted in a loss of pitch control during the initial climb and a subsequent hard landing and loss of directional control.
- [NTSB GAA17CA226](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA226.md): Cessna 210 · Santa Teresa, NM · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Apr 8, 2017 · N3938Y · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, porpoised landing and subsequent nose-over.
- [NTSB GAA17CA095](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA095.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Separ, NM · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Dec 15, 2016 · N835AK · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s abrupt maneuver to avoid electrical wires during the approach, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB GAA16CA014](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA014.md): Kubicek BB · Albuquerque, NM · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 8, 2015 · N106KB · No damage
  > A hard landing which resulted in serious injury to a passenger.
- [NTSB CEN15LA434](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA434.md): Lindstrand LBL69A · Albuquerque, NM · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 27, 2015 · N266LB · No damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain a proper descent rate on approach, which resulted in a hard landing and the pilot sustaining a serious injury. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of recent experience flying a standard-shaped balloon.
- [NTSB CEN15LA360](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA360.md): North American T 28A · Las Cruces, NM · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 14, 2015 · N14124 · Substantial damage
  > Failure of the No. 6 cylinder connecting rod, due to improper rotation of the propeller during a previous hydraulic lock.
- [NTSB CEN14LA520](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA520.md): Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta · Albuquerque, NM · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 26, 2014 · N7026J · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain main rotor rpm during a pinnacle approach, which resulted in a loss of helicopter control and collision with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to attempt the approach given the helicopter's weight…
- [NTSB CEN14LA326](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA326.md): Aerospatiale AS350B · Mayhill, NM · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 27, 2014 · N69PJ · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control while performing a go-around in strong, gusting wind conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to initiate the flight in strong, gusting wind conditions.
- [NTSB CEN14CA191](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA191.md): Cessna 172S · Albuquerque, NM · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Apr 8, 2014 · N5306U · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot's improper flare that resulted in a bounced landing.
- [NTSB CEN14LA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA005.md): Cameron N105 - NO Series · Albuquerque, NM · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 5, 2013 · N4113T · No damage
  > The pilot's decision to land the balloon from a high approach altitude due to high winds, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB CEN13LA158](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA158.md): Bell 206B III · Ponderosa, NM · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Feb 11, 2013 · N360AW · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because the postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
- [NTSB CEN13CA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA035.md): Lindstrand Balloons 90A · Albuquerque, NM · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 10, 2012 · N6061R · No damage
  > The balloon pilot's encounter with higher-than-expected wind velocity, which resulted in a hard landing and passenger injury.
- [NTSB CEN13CA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA018.md): Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 90A · Albuquerque, NM · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 10, 2012 · N230LB · No damage
  > The passenger’s inadequate brace position for the balloon landing, which resulted in a serious injury.
- [NTSB CEN11CA409](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA409.md): Cessna 172N · Santa Teresa, NM · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 19, 2011 · N739ZN · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind condition, resulting in a runway excursion.
- [NTSB DCA11FA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA11FA035.md): Airbus F4-622R · Albuquerque, NM · Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 23, 2011 · N173UP · Substantial damage
  > The captain's failure to control the airplane pitch-up induced by ground spoiler deployment during the go-around.
- [NTSB CEN11CA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA035.md): Borne Charles A III RV-4 · Los Lunas, NM · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 17, 2010 · N353CB · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing and loss of directional control.
- [NTSB CEN10LA383](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA383.md): Cessna 182M · Alamagordo, NM · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 5, 2010 · N71784 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's loss of airplane control during landing, which resulted in a hard/bounced landing.
- [NTSB CEN10CA017](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA017.md): Cameron Z77 · Albuquerque, NM · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 8, 2009 · N4502V · Minor damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the balloon during the approach and landing.
- [NTSB CEN09LA318](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA318.md): Aerostar International S-60A · Albuquerque, NM · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 25, 2009 · N120RB · No damage
  > The pilot's excessive descent rate.
- [NTSB DFW08LA088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08LA088.md): Balloon Works Firefly 9 · Questa, NM · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Mar 30, 2008 · N72345 · Destroyed
  > The balloon's encounter with a wind gust/downdraft during landing, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB DEN08LA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08LA066.md): Robinson R22 Beta · Las Vegas, NM · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Mar 18, 2008 · N3055N · Substantial damage
  > An inadvertent settling with power, and the instructor's failure to maintain control of the helicopter, resulting in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the downdraft.

## The whole list in SQL

Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS:

```sql
SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url
FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1
WHERE c."eventStateOrRegion" = 'NM' AND c."eventCountry" = 'USA'
  AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT s.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' s WHERE s."tier2Number" = '092' AND s.case_mkey IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' WHERE "isDefiningEvent"))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence?state=NM

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