# NTSB WPR24LA223: Ultramagic T210, N53WB, Arroyo Hondo, NM, June 26, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 26, 2024, 07:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Arroyo Hondo, NM - Coordinates: 36.4996, -105.7388 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.4996&lon=-105.7388&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 4 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 194599 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA223 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194599/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194599 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA223 ## Probable cause The passenger’s failure to maintain a proper landing position and handhold during the landing sequence, which resulted in a serious injury. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Passenger; cases with it: [Ultramagic T210, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=9230012), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/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: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093); cases with it: [Ultramagic T210, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=9230012), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Ultramagic T210, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=9230012), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that after he instructed the passengers on the landing procedures, positions, and handholds in the basket of the hot air balloon, they completed about a 1-hour flight without any anomalies. Prior to a normal landing, the passengers were once again instructed on the landing procedures. During landing, shortly after touchdown, the balloon slid to a stop and a passenger was unable to maintain her instructed position and handhold. Subsequently, the passenger sustained a serious injury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N53WB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N53WB), registered now, S/N 210/123, built 2018 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ULTRAMAGIC SA T210 - Registry model: [Ultramagic T210](https://openairdocs.org/model/ultramagic-t210) (registry code 9230012) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 210/123 - Year built: 2018 - Airframe hours: 509 - Engines: ULTRAMAGIC MK-32 DOUBLE BURNER 28 hp none - Damage: No damage - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon - Last inspection: Annual, June 13, 2024, 1 hours before - Departed: Arroyo Hondo, NM - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: KSKX, Taos Regional Airport - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; commercial; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 17, 2022; seat: right; flight hours: 2,222 total, 510 in this make and model, 2,222 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.39 inHg - Observed at: KSKX, 5 nm away - METAR: KSKX 261156Z AUTO 09004KT 10SM CLR 16/04 A3030 RMK AO2 SLP170 T01610044 10233 20156 53005 ## 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 20240626021199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240626021199A), Jun 26, 2024: Ultramagic Sa T210, Taos, NM, No damage. On June 26, 2024, at approximately 07:30 MST, an Ultramagic ballloon (sa T210), was involved in a landing accident with a passenger injury. The purpose of the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 12, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194599. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18258487&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR24LA223%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 190 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18258565&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Docket%20pic%20array%20WPR24LA223-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.