Ultramagic N-250 accident near Del Mar, California, May 9, 2005
On May 9, 2005 at about 2:30 am local time, a Ultramagic N-250 (balloon), registered N3002J, was involved in an accident near Del Mar, California. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 9 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to arrest the high rate of descent and an inadequate bounced landing recovery technique. a factor in the accident was the rough, uneven terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 9, 2005 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Del Mar, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 9 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ultramagic N-250
- Registration
- N3002J · no longer on the register · serial S#250-14
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The balloon landed hard in rough, uneven terrain injuring one of the nine passengers. After departure the balloon drifted in a south easterly direction between the altitudes of 500 feet and 2,000 feet above ground level for a period of 40 minutes. The pilot briefed the passengers for landing, flew over some power lines, and landed in a construction site. The balloon had a high rate of descent when it landed and bounced, followed by a second touchdown bounce, and then came to rest. The injured passenger stated that they received a good briefing from the pilot prior to landing. She said that they landed hard in uneven terrain, bounced, landed hard a second time, bounced, and then the basket came to rest lopsided on a hillside. She said she fractured her tibia and fibula during the second landing bounce. She said she was prepared for the first landing but did not expect the bounce and second landing touchdown. The pilot indicated in the accident report that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the balloon.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 976 hours in all; 9 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: April 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 490 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2004; 98 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 15
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine:; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Rancho Santa Fe CA at 1:50 am
- Destination: Del Mar CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 300° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,200 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 2:51 am from KSAN, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 8 |
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.