# NTSB WPR21LA191: Ultramagic S A N-500, N500UM, Phoenix, AZ, May 2, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 2, 2021, 08:15 local (15:15 UTC) - Place: Phoenix, AZ - Coordinates: 33.827448, -112.10134 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8274&lon=-112.1013&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 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 - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 103069 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA191 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103069/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103069 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA191 ## 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. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Ultramagic S A N-500, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=9130018), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Ultramagic S A N-500, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=9130018), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [Ultramagic S A N-500, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=9130018), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that before the revenue passenger-carrying balloon sightseeing flight, he obtained a weather briefing just before departure. Light and variable winds were forecast. After departure the balloon climbed to about 1,400 ft above ground level and began to drift north rather than northeast as he was expecting. After identifying a vacant field for landing, the pilot initiated the descent with a forward speed of about 6 knots. However, after the basket contacted the ground, the wind speed increased. The pilot partially opened the deflation valve to slow down the balloon, but the basket struck a dead tree. Branches from the tree pierced the basket, causing serious injuries to one of the passengers and minor damage to the basket. The balloon envelope had a capacity of 29 occupants, and the basket 25. According to the operator, for insurance purposes, the capacity was limited to 19 passengers and one pilot. Following a fatal balloon accident that occurred in Lockhart, Texas, on July 30, 2016 (see NTSB report AAR-17/03), the Balloon Federation of America (BFA) established an “Envelope of Safety” program for operators who carry paying passengers. According to the BFA, the voluntary program establishes a set of criteria divided into pilot and ride company requirements, which if followed, result in the operator being awarded “Silver”, “Gold”, or “Platinum” status. A prerequisite for all levels is the requirement that each pilot must also satisfy the BFA Professional Ride Operator (PRO) pilot criteria. The criteria established a series of pilot flight experience, training, and drug and alcohol test requirements. The pilot, who also owned the balloon operation, stated that while he was a member of the BFA, he was not enrolled in the PRO or Envelope of Safety Program. The accident was the second for the operator, the first also occurred in the same balloon, and resulted in two serious injuries. See NTSB accident report WPR20LA333. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N500UM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N500UM), registered now, S/N 500/18, built 2019 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ULTRAMAGIC S A N-500 - 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: 2019 - Airframe hours: 187.7 - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: Randy Long Companies LLC - Registered owner: Randy Long Companies LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon - Last inspection: Annual, January 22, 2021, 30 hours before - Departed: Phoenix, AZ - Destination: Phoenix, AZ - Airport: None - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; sport pilot, commercial; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 31, 2020; seat: none; restraint: none; flight hours: 3,600 total, 216 in this make and model, 2,983 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 11 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: 82 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 29.67 inHg - Observed at: KPHX, 24 nm away - METAR: KPHX 021551Z 00000KT 10SM FEW030 FEW250 28/M04 A2967 RMK AO2 SLP027 FU FEW030 NW T02781039 ## 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 20210502005379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210502005379A), May 2, 2021: Ultramagic S A N-500, Phoenix, AZ, Minor damage. After changing the departure location due to winds, balloon departed on an approximate 45 minute flight. PIC was reported to police from passengers onboard… ## 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 WPR20LA333](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA333), Sep 18, 2020: Ultramagic N500 (N500UM), Peoria, AZ, no damage. Probable cause: The balloon's encounter with unexpected windshear, which resulted in a hard landing and serious passenger injuries. ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 20, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103069. 2.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12336357&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20complete-e_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot correction to 6120.1 (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 42 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12337283&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Correction-Rel.pdf - Bfa envelope of safety program (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 78 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12556166&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Envelope%20of%20Safety%20Program%20-%202017-12-19-Rel.pdf - Commercial hot-air balloon safety program FAA announcement (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 85 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12555798&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=New%20Commercial%20Hot-Air%20Balloon%20Safety%20Program-Rel.pdf - Photograph of damage (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 546 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12556139&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%201-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. --- 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.