# NTSB WPR25LA016: Lindstrand 80E, N80029, Albuquerque, NM, October 12, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: October 12, 2024, 08:15 local (14:15 UTC)
- Place: Albuquerque, NM
- Coordinates: 35.11869, -106.64603
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1187&lon=-106.6460&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 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): 195319
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA016
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195319/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195319
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA016

## Probable cause

The pilot’s loss of control during landing, which resulted in the balloon’s envelope contacting powerlines.

## Findings

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

- [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 80E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=5190031), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind: sudden wind shift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 80E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md?model=5190031), [All aircraft, 114 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380) (defining event); cases with it: [Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 80E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md?model=5190031), [All aircraft, 400 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he was attempting to land a hot air balloon in a field, when the wind shifted. Upon touchdown, one of the passengers exited without the pilot’s instruction to do so. As a result of the passenger exiting, the balloon suddenly climbed about 15-20 ft. Subsequently, as the balloon was descending to the ground, the pilot vented out the remaining air from the envelope, which then contacted the ground and a powerline. A spark was observed at the powerline and a small fire ensued, which resulted in substantial damage to the envelope. The pilot reported that the balloon had no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot further stated that a preflight passenger briefing was conducted prior to the flight, which directed passengers to remain in the basket until the pilot gives permission to exit.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N80029](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N80029), registered now, S/N 5761, built 2022 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LINDSTRAND 80E
- Registry model: [Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 80E](https://openairdocs.org/model/arbc-inc-dba-lindstrand-80e) (registry code 5190031) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: 5761
- Year built: 2022
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon
- Last inspection: Annual, June 26, 2024, 41 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private; instrument ratings: airplane; last flight review August 13, 2023; seat: none; flight hours: 283.25 total, 42 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 20° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter: 30.37 inHg
- Icing: Unknown
- Turbulence: Unknown
- Observed at: KAEG, 7 nm away
- METAR: KAEG 121453Z 02004KT 10SM CLR 18/M06 A3037

## 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 20241012015669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241012015669A), Oct 12, 2024: Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 80E, Albuquerque, NM, Substantial damage. On October 12, 2024, at or around 08:15 MDT, an Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 80E, struck powerlines while landing aproximately 6 miles nw of Albuquerque sunport…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 8, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195319. 2.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17816185&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120-signed_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array-courtesy of the FAA (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 785 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17815970&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array1-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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