# NTSB GAA19CA030: Ultramagic N 250, N275WB, Rio Rancho, NM, October 8, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 8, 2018, 09:59 local (15:59 UTC) - Place: Rio Rancho, NM - Coordinates: 35.226112, -106.649444 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2261&lon=-106.6494&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 12 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 8, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 98524 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA030 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98524/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98524 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA030 ## Probable cause The balloon tipping over during deflation, which resulted in a passenger injury. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01060000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Ultramagic S A N-250, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01060000/cases.md?model=9130008), [All aircraft, 63 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01060000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Ultramagic S A N-250, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=9130008), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) ## Analysis The balloon pilot reported that, during touchdown, the basket made very light impact, swung around, and stopped. He added that, as the balloon deflated, the basket tipped over on its side. While assisting passengers out of the basket, a passenger told the pilot that she had a broken arm. The pilot reported that she stated to him that believed that another passenger had possibly fallen on her when the basket tipped over. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The balloon pilot reported that, during touchdown, the basket made very light impact, swung around, and stopped. He added that as the balloon deflated, the basket laid over on its side. While assisting passengers out of the basket, the female passenger told the pilot that she had broken her arm. The pilot reported that, after picking her up from the hospital, she believed that another passenger had possibly fallen on her when the basket laid over. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N275WB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N275WB), registered now, S/N 250/91, built 2017 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ultramagic N 250 (No Series) - Registry model: [Ultramagic S A N-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/ultramagic-s-a-n-250) (registry code 9130008) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 250/91 - Year built: 2017 - Airframe hours: 279 - Damage: No damage - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 21, 2018 - Departed: N/A, Albuquerque, NM - Destination: Rio Rancho, NM - Flight plan: VFR - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; commercial; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 9, 2017; restraint: none; flight hours: 2,060 total, 300 in this make and model, 2,060 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: KAEG, 9 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20181008019969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181008019969A), Oct 8, 2018: Ultramagic S A N-250, Rio Rancho, NM, No damage. On October 08, 2018, an Ultramagic N250 lighter-than-air (lta) balloon, N275WB, registered to buoyant investments, inc., and operated by world balloon of… ## Other investigations on N275WB (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 GAA20CA037](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA037), Oct 19, 2019: Ultramagic N 250 (N275WB), Albuquerque, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure maintain clearance from power lines, which resulted in an explosion and preimpact fire. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 11, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98524. 2.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470235&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470236&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.