Ultramagic SA N210 accident near Peoria, Arizona, March 14, 2015
On March 14, 2015 at about 3:20 pm local time, a 2013 Ultramagic SA N210 (balloon), registered N210UM, suffered minor damage in an accident during landing near Peoria, Arizona. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 10 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing after noting a higher-than-anticipated wind speed and the balloon's high descent rate, which resulted in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 14, 2015 · about 3:20 pm local time
- Place
- Peoria, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 10 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ultramagic SA N210 NO SERIES, built 2013 · all N210s on the register
- Registration
- N210UM · registry record · serial 210/90
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, halfway through the flight, he determined that the wind aloft was higher than anticipated and that the original planned landing destination was no longer suitable. While the balloon was between 3,000 and 4,000 ft mean sea level, he started looking for another landing area and noted that the surface wind had increased and changed direction since the launch; the wind aloft about this time was reported to be 26 knots. The pilot stated that, during the descent to land, the balloon was traveling "about 15 mph." During the subsequent landing in an open field, the gondola impacted the ground hard twice, followed by two small hops, and then came to a stop. One of the passengers sustained two broken ankles during the two hard landings.
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
- Other weather encounter during enroute (cruise)
- Hard landing during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent rate › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › High wind › Effect on equipment
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Decision related to condition
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › High wind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 1,042 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 989 as pilot in command; 44 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 10, 2014
- Medical certificate: None
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 136.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 6, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 4,540 lb
- Seats: 13
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: Phoenix AZ at 2:40 pm
- Destination: Phoenix AZ
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from KDVT, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 9 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.