Arbc INC DBA Lindstrand 90A accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, October 10, 2012
On October 10, 2012 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Arbc INC DBA Lindstrand 90A (balloon), registered N230LB, was involved in an accident during landing near Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The passenger’s inadequate brace position for the balloon landing, which resulted in a serious injury.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 10, 2012 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Arbc INC DBA Lindstrand 90A · all 90As on the register
- Registration
- N230LB · registry record · serial 5393
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the balloon stated that at the conclusion of the local flight, he was making an approach for landing near a field. At 15 feet above the ground, the pilot pulled out the top of the balloon and landed without a bounce. The balloon then dragged across the ground for 20 feet and came to rest. Prior to landing, the passengers were briefed for a possible hard landing. The pilot noticed that one passenger did not assume the proper brace position. That passenger was seriously injured during the landing and the balloon was not damaged.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Hard landing during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Passenger
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 927 hours in all; 462 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 915 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 4, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 120 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 24, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 1,980 lb
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: Albuquerque NM at 1:30 pm
- Destination: Albuquerque NM
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 008° at 18 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN13CA018.