# NTSB GAA20CA037: Ultramagic N 250, N275WB, Albuquerque, NM, October 19, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 19, 2019, 08:05 local (14:05 UTC) - Place: Albuquerque, NM - Coordinates: 35.084445, -106.650276 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0844&lon=-106.6503&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 13 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 100454 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA20CA037 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100454/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100454 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA037 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure maintain clearance from power lines, which resulted in an explosion and preimpact fire. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Ultramagic S A N-250, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=9130008), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Ultramagic S A N-250, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=9130008), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Ultramagic S A N-250, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=9130008), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) - [Landing: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150); cases with it: [Ultramagic S A N-250, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md?model=9130008), [All aircraft, 504 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during approach in a balloon, he flew over a line of trees and noticed power lines. He told his 12 passengers to "get down," and he turned off the propane tanks in the basket in anticipation of the baskets contacting the power lines. To avoid power line contact with the balloon's support cables, the pilot activated the burners on the opposite side of the expected contact point, hoping the balloon would ascend. The balloon contacted the power lines just above the leather bolster, "causing a huge explosion." The power lines cut through the support cables in the pilot compartment. The balloon began to ascend away from the power lines, and the pilot maneuvered to a parking lot and descended to land. During the descent, the balloon's basket caught fire. The pilot landed on the asphalt parking lot surface, and the passengers exited the basket. The pilot rapidly deflated the envelope and attempted to extinguish the fire. The balloon sustained substantial damage to the support cables and the basket. 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 approach, he flew over a line of trees and noticed powerline wires. He told his 12 passengers to "get down," and he turned off the propane tanks in the basket, in anticipation of the baskets contact the powerline wires. In an effort to avoid powerline contact with the balloon's support cables, the pilot activated the burners on the opposite side of the expected contact point, in hopes of ascending. The balloon contacted the powerline wires just above the leather bolster, "causing a huge explosion." The powerline wires cut through the support cables in the pilot compartment. The balloon began to ascend away from the powerline wires, and the pilot maneuvered to a parking lot and descended to land. During descent, the balloon's basket caught fire. The pilot landed on the asphalt parking lot surface and the passengers exited the basket. The pilot rapidly deflated the envelope and the attempted to extinguish the fire. The balloon sustained substantial damage to the support cables and the basket. 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: 550 - Engines: Powerplus 3 Burner BMK-050 none - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: In-Flight - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Balloons Over The Rainbow Inc - Registered owner: Balloons Over The Rainbow Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2019 - Departed: Albuquerque, NM - Destination: Albuquerque, NM - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## 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 May 19, 2018; seat: none; restraint: none; flight hours: 2,330 total, 530 in this make and model, 2,300 as pilot in command, 58 in the last 90 days, 36 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: KABQ, 3 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 20191019020619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191019020619A), Oct 19, 2019: Ultramagic S A N-250, Albuquerque, NM, Substantial damage. On October 19, 2019, an Ultramagic N250 lighter-than-air (lta) balloon, N275WB, registered to balloons over the rainbow 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 GAA19CA030](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA030), Oct 8, 2018: Ultramagic N 250 (N275WB), Rio Rancho, NM, no damage. Probable cause: The balloon tipping over during deflation, which resulted in a passenger injury. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 24, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100454. 4.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480211&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photos (item 2, .PDF, 609 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480212&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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.