Arbc INC DBA Lindstrand 77A accident near Rio Rancho, New Mexico, November 9, 2025
On November 9, 2025 at about 2:30 pm local time, a 2015 Arbc INC DBA Lindstrand 77A (balloon), registered N614LB, was involved in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Rio Rancho, New Mexico. It was an instructional 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
An inadvertent hard landing in high wind conditions resulting in serious injury of one of the pilots.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 9, 2025 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Rio Rancho, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Arbc INC DBA Lindstrand 77A, built 2015 · all 77As on the register
- Registration
- N614LB · registry record · serial 5580
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While conducting an instructional flight, the commercial pilot noted that the wind speed was 14 knots during the first approach to land. Someone on the ground reported to the pilot that winds were 8 knots near the landing area. The student pilot who was in control of the balloon elected to climb back up to navigate to the North to make another landing attempt. The pilot discussed the upcoming high wind landing with the student pilot as she prepared for a long approach to landing. The balloon descended at a steady rate and before landing she pulled the rapid-deflation valve line. During the landing, the balloon impacted the ground and bounced back into the air. Both the pilot and the student pilot remained in the bottom of the basket as the student pilot continued to pull the rapid-deflation valve line to deflate the balloon. After contacting the ground again, the basket continued to drag on the ground until the balloon was deflated. The student pilot sustained serious injuries during the landing. There were no mechanical malfunctions reported during the flight.
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 (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Other weather encounter during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › (general) › Effect on operation
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Capability exceeded
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 314 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 314 as pilot in command; 40 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 9, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: none
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 19 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 0 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: none
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 25, 2025; 183.5 hours since
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: Albuquerque NM
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.47 inHg
- Observation at 7:00 am from KAEG, 6 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KAEG 091350Z 30007KT 10SM CLR 00/M09 A3047
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
1 document, released by the NTSB on February 12, 2026. 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, 10 pages | 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.