Ultramagic SA T210 and Lindstrand LBL240A accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, October 6, 2017
On October 6, 2017 at about 2:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Ultramagic SA T210 (N123UT) and Lindstrand LBL240A (CFCKX), were involved in the same accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico. 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 23 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The other pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from a balloon on the ground during landing.
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from a balloon on the ground during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 6, 2017 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 23 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Ultramagic SA T210 NO SERIES, built 2007 · all T210s on the register
- Registration
- N123UT · registry record · serial 210/42
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Lindstrand LBL240A, built 1995
- Registration
- CFCKX · no longer on the register · serial 165
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Ultramagic SA T210 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The Ultramagic balloon pilot reported that, during a balloon festival, after a local sightseeing flight, he landed the balloon and decided to wait for the ground crew to locate the balloon before deflating. He added that, as the balloon was deflating, he "heard a basket sliding across the top of [his] balloon." The balloon rotated counter-clockwise, and the balloon basket, still loaded with passengers, rolled upside down. The Ultramagic balloon sustained substantial damage to the burner rack. One passenger sustained serious injuries. The Lindstrand balloon pilot reported that, during landing, there were two balloons in his flightpath. He added that he climbed and passed the first balloon but was unable to pass the second balloon, and "I brushed him with my basket on the top of his balloon." He landed the balloon without further incident. The Ultramagic pilot and the Lindstrand operations manager reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the balloons that would have precluded normal operation.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Lindstrand LBL240A final · quoted from the NTSB record
The Ultramagic balloon pilot reported that, during a balloon festival, after a local sightseeing flight, he landed the balloon and decided to wait for the ground crew to locate the balloon before deflating. He added that, as the balloon was deflating, he "heard a basket sliding across the top of [his] balloon." The balloon rotated counter-clockwise, and the balloon basket, still loaded with passengers, rolled upside down. The Ultramagic balloon sustained substantial damage to the burner rack. One passenger sustained serious injuries. The Lindstrand balloon pilot reported that, during landing, there were two balloons in his flightpath. He added that he climbed and passed the first balloon but was unable to pass the second balloon, and "I brushed him with my basket on the top of his balloon." He landed the balloon without further incident. The Ultramagic pilot and the Lindstrand operations manager reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the balloons that would have precluded normal operation.
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 for the Ultramagic SA T210 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during standing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Aircraft › Effect on operation
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot of other aircraft
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 11,028 hours in all; 2,148 in this make and model; 105 in the last 90 days; 42 in the last 30 days; 10,992 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 21, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 815.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 24, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 12
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (none); 0 hours total
- Operator: Pacific Rim Adventures INC DBA
The flight
- Departed from: Albuquerque NM at 1:10 pm
- Destination: Albuquerque NM
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; a few clouds at 1,300 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 12:52 pm from KABQ, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 10 |
The factual record for the Lindstrand LBL240A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Aircraft › Effect on operation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: foreign licence, private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 743 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 734 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 11, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: none
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,135.2 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 23, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 4,270 lb
- Seats: 13
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (none); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sundance Balloons (2008) Ltd
The flight
- Departed from: Albuquerque NM at 1:38 pm
- Destination: Albuquerque NM
- Flight plan: none
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 12 |
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.