Ultramagic SA T210 accident near Arroyo Hondo, New Mexico, June 26, 2024
On June 26, 2024 at about 1:30 pm local time, a 2018 Ultramagic SA T210 (balloon), registered N53WB, was involved in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Arroyo Hondo, New Mexico (Taos Regional Airport). It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 4 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The passenger’s failure to maintain a proper landing position and handhold during the landing sequence, which resulted in a serious injury.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 12, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 26, 2024 · about 1:30 pm local time · cases in 2024
- Place
- Arroyo Hondo, New Mexico · Taos Regional Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 4 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ultramagic SA T210, built 2018 · all T210s on the register
- Registration
- N53WB · registry record · serial 210/123
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that after he instructed the passengers on the landing procedures, positions, and handholds in the basket of the hot air balloon, they completed about a 1-hour flight without any anomalies. Prior to a normal landing, the passengers were once again instructed on the landing procedures. During landing, shortly after touchdown, the balloon slid to a stop and a passenger was unable to maintain her instructed position and handhold. Subsequently, the passenger sustained a serious injury.
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
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Miscellaneous/other during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Passenger
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 2,222 hours in all; 510 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 2,222 as pilot in command; 42 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 17, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 509 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 13, 2024; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 12
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Ultramagic MK-32 DOUBLE (none); 509 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Arroyo Hondo NM at 12:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.39 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 am from KSKX, 5 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KSKX 261156Z AUTO 09004KT 10SM CLR 16/04 A3030 RMK AO2 SLP170 T01610044 10233 20156 53005
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 3 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on February 12, 2025. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N53WB on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Ultramagic Sa T210 7 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Engine: Ultramagic MK-32 DOUBLE · as the NTSB recorded it
- Taos Regional · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in New Mexico 1,422 since 1982 · 184 in the last ten years
- New Mexico 3,108 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR24LA223.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.