# NTSB WPR26LA176: Cameron Balloons US C-80, N4022X, Rio Rancho, NM, May 3, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 3, 2026, 08:15 local (14:15 UTC) - Place: Rio Rancho, NM · 35.262800045532, -106.72339030439841 - Coordinates: 35.2628, -106.72339 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2628&lon=-106.7234&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, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 1, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA Lubbock FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 202936 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA176 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202936/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202936 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA176 ## Probable cause The passenger’s improper hand placement on the basket upright during landing, which resulted in injury when the upright fractured during the basket’s bounce and drag sequence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Passenger (probable cause); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons US C-80, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=1880224), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md) - [Knowledge: knowledge of procedures](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Passenger; cases with it: [Cameron Balloons US C-80, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032010/cases.md?model=1880224), [All aircraft, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032010/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: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons US C-80, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=1880224), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the balloon reported that he and the passenger, who had recently purchased the balloon, were conducting a local flight. Before departure, he briefed the passenger on proper landing posture and hand placement down low and not on the uprights. The takeoff and enroute phase of the flight were unremarkable. While on final approach to land, the pilot conducted a steep approach and demonstrated ground-tracking maneuvers before the final touchdown. During touchdown, the basket bounced and was dragged across the ground. The passenger was holding onto a basket upright during one of the bounces. Subsequently, the upright fractured and the passenger sustained a serious injury. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4022X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4022X), registered now, S/N 6073, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CAMERON BALLOONS US C-80 - Registry model: [Cameron Balloons US C-80](https://openairdocs.org/model/cameron-balloons-us-c-80) (registry code 1880224) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 6073 - Year built: 1996 - Damage: No damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Siarza Lta, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon - Last inspection: Annual, March 6, 2026 - Departed: NA, Rio Rancho, NM - Destination: Same as departure ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; private; last flight review October 3, 2024; seat: none; restraint: none; flight hours: 90 total, 4 in this make and model, 90 as pilot in command, 4.8 in the last 90 days, 3.5 in the last 30 days, 2.2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.27 inHg - Observed at: KAEG, 8 nm away - METAR: METAR KAEG 021350Z 01008KT 10SM SCT120 06/02 A3027 ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 1, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202936. 6.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 6.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20378502&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR26LA176%20-%206120.1%20-%20Flat_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 100 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20378591&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR26LA176%20-%20MOR%20-%20PIC_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� email correspondence (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 96 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20532671&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR26LA176%20-%20MOR%20-%20Email%20Correspondence_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.