Richardson Andrew P RICHARDSON-75 accident near Alburquerque, New Mexico, October 5, 2021
On October 5, 2021 at about 3:00 pm local time, a 2015 Richardson Andrew P RICHARDSON-75 (balloon), registered N518UR, was involved in an accident during landing near Alburquerque, New Mexico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was 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 and serious passenger injury.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 5, 2021 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Alburquerque, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Richardson Andrew P RICHARDSON-75, built 2015
- Registration
- N518UR · registry record · serial 007
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that as the balloon descended to land, about 45-60 ft above ground level, the winds were sustained out of the southwest about 9 to 11 mph. During the landing, the basket touched down firmly, tilted to the side, and then drug along the ground for about 20 ft before coming to rest upright. During the landing sequence, the passenger sustained a serious leg injury. 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
- Hard landing during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Sudden wind shift › Effect on equipment
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent rate › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 218.4 hours in all; 209.2 in this make and model; 9.8 in the last 90 days; 4.6 in the last 30 days; 218.4 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 24, 2021
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: none
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: none
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 260.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 23, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: Albuquerque NM at 1:53 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 8:52 am from KABQ, 9 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KABQ 051452Z 00000KT 10SM BKN250 17/05 A3029 RMK AO2 SLP196 T01670050 51009
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on November 23, 2021. 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 Email | 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.
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.