Ultramagic N 250 accident near Rio Rancho, New Mexico, October 8, 2018
On October 8, 2018 at about 3:59 pm local time, a 2017 Ultramagic N 250 (balloon), registered N275WB, was involved in an accident during landing near Rio Rancho, New Mexico. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 12 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The balloon tipping over during deflation, which resulted in a passenger injury.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 8, 2018 · about 3:59 pm local time
- Place
- Rio Rancho, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 12 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ultramagic N 250 No Series, built 2017
- Registration
- N275WB · registry record · serial 250/91
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The balloon pilot reported that, during touchdown, the basket made very light impact, swung around, and stopped. He added that, as the balloon deflated, the basket tipped over on its side. While assisting passengers out of the basket, a passenger told the pilot that she had a broken arm. The pilot reported that she stated to him that believed that another passenger had possibly fallen on her when the basket tipped over. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the balloon 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 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Miscellaneous/other during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › (general) › (general) › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 2,060 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 2,060 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 9, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 279 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 21, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: N/A Albuquerque NM at 3:01 pm
- Destination: Rio Rancho NM
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 3:47 pm from KAEG, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 11 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on February 11, 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 | Record of Conversation - Pilot | 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.
Other NTSB records under N275WB the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.