# NTSB WPR26LA225: Ultramagic N-300, N330LV, Pahrump, NV, June 18, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: June 18, 2026, 06:45 local (13:45 UTC)
- Place: Pahrump, NV
- Coordinates: 36.249344, -116.17658
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2493&lon=-116.1766&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 3 serious, 7 minor
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 203221
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA225
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203221/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA225

## Preliminary report

On June 18, 2026, at 0645 mountain daylight time, an Ultramagic SA N-300 balloon, N330LV, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Pahrump, Nevada. The pilot and 2 passengers were seriously injured; 7 passengers sustained minor injuries. The balloon was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 sightseeing flight. The pilot reported that after completing a safety briefing to the 9 passengers, he launched the balloon at 0545 with calm wind, and expected to arrive at the intended destination, a dry lakebed, about 40 minutes later. The flight went as planned; however, during the landing approach, the pilot noticed a strong crosswind and aborted the landing. The pilot explained to the passengers that they would continue flying until the wind conditions were calmer. About 5 minutes later, the pilot initiated a second landing approach and did not notice a crosswind. The passengers assumed the safety position, and the pilot turned off the fuel tanks, and bled the fuel lines. The pilot then fully opened the quick-deflation system as the basket touched down normally. As the balloon deflated on the ground, the wind increased, which pushed the balloon and tilted the basket onto its side. The basket continued to drag across the ground and the uprights fracturing followed by the basket becoming partially inverted. According to the pilot, during the accident sequence, a passenger fell onto a burner blast valve, which resulted in a short burst of flame emitted from the burners. The basket came to rest on its side, and the pilot and passengers exited the basket.

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Ultramagic N-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=9130013), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N330LV](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N330LV), registered now, S/N 300/78, built 2018 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ULTRAMAGIC SA N-300
- Registry model: [Ultramagic N-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/ultramagic-n-300) (registry code 9130013) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: 300/78
- Year built: 2018
- Airframe hours: 716
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Other work use, Part 91
- Operator: Vegas Balloon Rides (2021) LLC
- Registered owner: Vegas Balloon Rides (2021) LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon
- Last inspection: Annual, December 2, 2025
- Departed: N/A, Pahrump, NV
- Destination: Same as departure
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observed at: KDRA, 23 nm away
- METAR: METAR KDRA 181353Z AUTO 11003KT 10SM CLR 27/01 A2989 RMK AO2 SLP063 T02720006 $

## 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 20260618008639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260618008639A), Jun 18, 2026: Ultramagic Sa N-300, Pahrump, NV, Substantial damage. During the landing approach on the dry lakebed, the pilot aborted the initial touchdown due to a strong crosswind. He informed the passengers that the flight…

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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