# NTSB WPR26LA052: Cameron Balloons US A-225, N980VA, Albuquerque, NM, November 24, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 24, 2025, 08:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Albuquerque, NM - Coordinates: 35.014949, -106.6085 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0149&lon=-106.6085&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor, 7 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 5, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - ABQ FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 202082 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA052 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202082/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202082 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA052 ## Probable cause The balloon landing in increased wind, and the pilot’s inability to maintain the proper descent rate, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: high wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons US A-225, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055/cases.md?model=1880232), [All aircraft, 112 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055/cases.md) - [Wind: downdraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons US A-225, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md?model=1880232), [All aircraft, 178 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/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: [Cameron Balloons US A-225, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=1880232), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Cameron Balloons US A-225, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1880232), [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: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons US A-225, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=1880232), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons US A-225, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1880232), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The hot air balloon pilot reported that he performed a safety briefing with all eight passengers before they boarded the balloon. During the flight the winds, which were forecasted to be about 3 knots at the time of landing, increased to 14 kts, gusting to 19 kts. The pilot determined that the planned landing area did not provide sufficient room for a safe landing due to the increase in wind speed and elected to divert to a more open area. The balloon crossed over a valley and encountered a downdraft, which the pilot said he unsuccessfully attempted to overcome using the gas burners. He activated the rapid-deflation system to help prevent dragging; the balloon touched down hard and was dragged by the wind as it deflated. The balloon landed hard at about 23 kts, which resulted in a serious injury to one of the passengers. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions with the balloon that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N980VA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N980VA), registered now, S/N 6968, built 2022 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CAMERON BALLOONS US A-225 - Registry model: [Cameron Balloons US A-225](https://openairdocs.org/model/cameron-balloons-us-a-225) (registry code 1880232) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 6968 - Year built: 2022 - Airframe hours: 397.6 - Damage: No damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Rainbow Ryders Inc - Registered owner: Rainbow Ryders Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon - Last inspection: Annual, July 23, 2025 - Departed: Albuquerque, NM - Destination: Albuquerque, NM - Airport: ABQ, Albuquerque International Sunport - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: minor; commercial; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 13, 2025; seat: none; restraint: none; flight hours: 1,073.3 total, 86 in this make and model, 1,073.3 as pilot in command, 53.3 in the last 90 days, 10.2 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: KABQ, 2 nm away - METAR: METAR KABQ 241452Z 16004KT 10SM SCT042 SCT150 06/03 A3013 RMK AO2 SLP185 MTNS OBSC NE-SE T00610028 53013 $= ## 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 20251124020709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251124020709A), Nov 24, 2025: Cameron Balloons US A-225, Albuquerque, NM, No damage. On November 24,2025 at 0800 a camron A-225 balloon [privacy data omitted] piloted by a commercially rated pilot departed from a field near cotton wood mall in… ## Other investigations on N980VA (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 WPR25LA284](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA284), Sep 15, 2025: Cameron Balloons US A-225 (N980VA), Albuquerque, NM, no damage. Probable cause: The balloon pilot’s improper landing, which resulted in serious injury to a passenger. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to brief the proper landing procedure. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 5, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202082. 1.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 13 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19650621&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=img20251203_12425107_Redacted-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.