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).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 26, 2024 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Arroyo Hondo, New Mexico · Taos Regional 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 |
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 | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR24LA223.