# NTSB WPR20LA333: Ultramagic N500, N500UM, Peoria, AZ, September 18, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 18, 2020, 09:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Peoria, AZ
- Coordinates: 33.797271, -112.24089 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7973&lon=-112.2409&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 18 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- NTSB case key (mKey): 102418
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20LA333
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102418/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102418
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA333

## Probable cause

The balloon's encounter with unexpected windshear, which resulted in a hard landing and serious passenger injuries.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Wind: windshear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Ultramagic S A N-500, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020/cases.md?model=9130018), [All aircraft, 90 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Ultramagic S A N-500, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=9130018), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Ultramagic S A N-500, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=9130018), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Ultramagic S A N-500, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=9130018), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that he departed from a vacant desert location with the wind from east at about 6 to 8 knots. The balloon ascended to about 1,000 ft above ground level (agl) as he maneuvered. Upon the descent to the intended landing location, about 200 ft agl, the balloon encountered a wind shift from the north. The pilot stated that this amounted to a low-level wind shear that accelerated the descent rate and resulted in an abnormally hard landing. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the balloon and that the hard landing was a result of non-forecasted/unexpected wind shear. As a result of the impact, two passenger suffered serious injuries.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N500UM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N500UM), registered now, S/N 500/18, built 2019 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Ultramagic N500
- Registry model: [Ultramagic S A N-500](https://openairdocs.org/model/ultramagic-s-a-n-500) (registry code 9130018) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: 500/18
- Year built: 2018
- Airframe hours: 94
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91
- Operator: Randy Long Companies LLC, doing business as Arizona Balloon Safaris
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon
- Last inspection: Annual, January 24, 2020
- Departed: Phoenix, AZ
- Destination: Same as departure

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; commercial, sport pilot; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 31, 2020; seat: none; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 3,499 total, 174 in this make and model, 2,881 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 12 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: 91 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
- Observed at: KDVT, 10 nm away
- METAR: KDVT 180753Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 06/M03 A2995 RMK AO2 SLP134 T00561033

## 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 20200918020289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200918020289A), Sep 18, 2020: Ultramagic S A N-500, Peoria, AZ, No damage. [privacy data omitted] Launched a hot air balloon tour from an off airport location near north valley parkway/dove valley road to another off airport location…

## Other investigations on N500UM (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 WPR21LA191](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA191), May 2, 2021: Ultramagic S A N-500 (N500UM), Phoenix, AZ, minor damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inability to maintain control after the balloon's encounter with an unexpected wind gust, which resulted in a collision with a tree.

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 20, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102418. 2.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 8 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11754293&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Z%20-%20Attachment%2001%20-%206120%20master_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Record of conversation - passengers (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 138 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11754013&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Z%20-%20Attachment%2002%20-%20Records%20of%20Conversation%20(Passengers)-Rel.pdf
- Pictures (unknown source) (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 324 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11754023&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Z%20-%20Attachment%2003%20-%20Pictures-Rel.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.

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