# NTSB WPR21LA158: Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 77A, N477LB, Rio Rancho, NM, January 23, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: January 23, 2021, 09:08 local (16:08 UTC)
- Place: Rio Rancho, NM
- Coordinates: 35.368302, -106.67298 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3683&lon=-106.6730&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: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 102921
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA158
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102921/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102921
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA158

## Probable cause

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.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 77A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=5190005), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 77A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=5190005), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 77A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=5190005), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/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: [Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 77A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=5190005), [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: [Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 77A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=5190005), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the balloon reported that, following an uneventful flight, she briefed the passenger for landing, which included having them secure themselves within the basket “holding on in 2 places.” The pilot stated that, during the landing descent, there was a bush that she selected to intentionally hit to slow the balloons ground speed down. The balloon brushed the vegetation, continued to descend, and landed hard. After the hard landing, the balloon became airborne and turned with the basket at a slight angle when the passenger “slid out the side of the basket,” about 5 ft above ground level. The pilot was met by the passenger shortly after she had landed and secured the balloon. The pilot and passenger walked to a nearby ridge, at which point the pilot was able to contact her crew with the location of the balloon. During this time, the passenger was alert; however, he wanted to sit down to rest. The pilot stated that 911 was called about an hour after the hard landing. The passenger was attended to by emergency personnel before he was transported to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. An autopsy revealed that the cause of death was blunt pelvic trauma.

## Factual narrative

On January 23, 2021, about 0908 mountain standard time, an ARBC Inc dba Lindstrand 77A balloon, N477LB, was involved in an accident near Rio Rancho, New Mexico, when the passenger sustained fatal injuries following a hard landing. The pilot was not injured, and the balloon was not damaged. The balloon was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that, before the accident flight, she performed three takeoffs and landings for currency. The passenger then boarded the hot air balloon and was briefed by the pilot. Following an uneventful flight, the pilot briefed the passenger for landing, which included instructions to “secure himself down in the basket, holding on in 2 places.” The terrain had ravines, gullies, bushes, and rocks. The pilot stated that during the landing descent, there was a bush that she selected to intentionally hit to slow the balloons ground speed down. The balloon brushed the vegetation, continued to descend, and landed hard. After the hard landing, the balloon became airborne and turned with the basket at a slight angle when the passenger “slid out the side of the basket,” about 5 ft above ground level. The pilot landed the balloon uneventfully and stated that she was met by the passenger shortly after she had secured the balloon. The pilot and passenger hiked across a ravine to a nearby ridge, at which point the pilot was able to contact her crew with the location of the balloon. During this time, passenger was alert; however, he wanted to sit down to rest. The pilot stated that 911 was called about an hour after the hard landing, and the passenger was attended to by emergency personnel before he was transported to the hospital. The passenger later succumbed to injuries sustained in the accident. The Office of the Medical Investigator, Albuquerque, New Mexico, performed an autopsy on the passenger. The cause of death was blunt pelvic trauma.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N477LB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N477LB), registered now, S/N 5320, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ARBC INC DBA LINDSTRAND 77A
- Registry model: [Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 77A](https://openairdocs.org/model/arbc-inc-dba-lindstrand-77a) (registry code 5190005) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: 5320
- Year built: 2006
- Airframe hours: 327.1
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, May 12, 2020

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 82; injuries: none; private; last flight review July 20, 2019; seat: none; restraint: none; flight hours: 329 total, 329 in this make and model, 299.6 as pilot in command, 0 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observed at: KAEG, 13 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 20210123005539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210123005539A), Jan 23, 2021: Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 77A, Rio Rancho, NM, Minor damage, 1 fatal. On 23 January 2021, at approximately 0910 MDT, a 2006 lindstrand 77A lighter than air balloon, N477LB, registered to [privacy data omitted], experienced a…

## Docket (7 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 2, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102921. 31.3 MB in all.

- Ballooning electronic instrument - specialist's factual report (item 1, PDF, 12 pages, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12799758&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR21LA158ballooinstrumnet_FINAL-Rel.pdf
- Attachment 1 to ballooning electronic instrument - specialist's factual report (item 2, CSV, 171 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12801112&FileExtension=csv&FileName=Tabular-Data-Rel.csv
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 3, PDF, 10 pages, 21.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14794617&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Record of conversation - pilot (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 88 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14794469&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20Pilot-Rel.pdf
- Pilots additional statement (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 6.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14794638&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=pilot%20added%20statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Crew member statement (item 6, PDF, 2 pages, 162 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14793902&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Crew%20Member%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Autopsy memo (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 105 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14794370&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Autopsy%20Memo-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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