Arbc INC DBA Lindstrand 260A accident near Colorado Springs, Colorado, August 2, 2024
On August 2, 2024 at about 1:00 pm local time, a 2014 Arbc INC DBA Lindstrand 260A (balloon), registered N26464, was involved in an accident during landing near Colorado Springs, Colorado. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 8 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain the proper descent rate during the balloon’s approach to landing, which resulted in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 2, 2024 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Colorado Springs, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 8 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Arbc INC DBA Lindstrand 260A, built 2014 · all 260As on the register
- Registration
- N26464 · registry record · serial 5560
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Following an uneventful flight, the pilot descended the balloon at a steep angle into a vacant field. The pilot had briefed the passengers on the proper brace position before the flight and then again just before the landing. The basket touched down firmly, bounced several times and came to rest on its side. Following the landing a passenger experienced pain in his leg. It was later determined the passenger had a broken ankle. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the balloon that would have precluded normal operations.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during approach
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent rate › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 1,300 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 1,300 as pilot in command; 20 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 3, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 4,994 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Marketing Services INC Of Pueblo
The flight
- Departed from: COS Colorado Springs CO at 12:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.45 inHg
- Observation at 6:54 am from KCOS, 6 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KCOS 021254Z 03007KT 10SM SCT250 16/11 A3045 RMK AO2 SLP222 T01610111
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 7 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
1 document, released by the NTSB on November 8, 2024. 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 |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 CEN24LA302.