Ultramagic S90 accident near La Mesa, Texas, April 27, 2019
On April 27, 2019 at about 1:30 pm local time, a 2017 Ultramagic S90 (balloon), registered N901UM, was involved in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near La Mesa, Texas. 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper decision to launch the balloon in known high wind conditions, and his failure to fully vent the balloon upon landing, which resulted in the balloon landing hard several times, tipping over, being pushed along uneven ground, and a serious passenger injury.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 27, 2019 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- La Mesa, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ultramagic S90, built 2017
- Registration
- N901UM · registry record · serial 90/151
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he was making an approach to land in a field. About 10 ft above ground level (agl), he pulled the vent chute. The balloon struck the ground travelling about 15 mph and tipped over, and then the wind pushed it across furrows for 60 ft. A wind gust lifted the partially filled balloon to about 20 ft agl. The pilot pulled the vent chute again, and after the balloon traveled another 128 ft, the basket struck the ground hard. The wind pushed the balloon for another 30 ft, and the balloon struck ditches on both sides of a road. The balloon then travelled another 88 ft through the grass and then came to a stop. The balloon was not damaged; however, one passenger sustained serious injuries, and a second passenger sustained minor injuries. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, there were 18 balloons at the launch site, one of which belonged to another FAA inspector, who had unpacked his balloon but did not launch. No other pilots unpacked their balloons due to the high winds aloft. The accident pilot was the only one to take off.
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 (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Miscellaneous/other during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › High wind › Effect on operation
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 684 hours in all; 56 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 645 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 15, 2018
- Medical certificate: None
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 51 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 27, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 1,495 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: La Mesa TX
- Destination: La Mesa TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 1:15 pm from LUV
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on May 9, 2019. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Email from FAA Inspector | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Map of Accident Area | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.