Kubicek Factory S R O BB26M accident near La Verkin, Utah, January 10, 2026
On January 10, 2026 at about 4:40 pm local time, a 2025 Kubicek Factory S R O BB26M (balloon), registered N90MN, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near La Verkin, Utah. It was a flight test under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from powerlines after an aborted landing attempt.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 10, 2026 · about 4:40 pm local time
- Place
- La Verkin, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Kubicek Factory S R O BB26M, built 2025 · all BB26Ms on the register
- Registration
- N90MN · registry record · serial 2482
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the balloon reported that during the flight, the wind pattern changed, and the balloon had traveled toward a congested area. The pilot attempted to land in a clearing, however, decided to abort the landing with the application of the burners to initiate a climb. Subsequently, the pilot realized that the balloon would not clear a set of power lines ahead of their position and pulled out the top of the balloon to expedite a descent. The balloon impacted the power lines and support pole, which resulted in substantial damage to multiple basket suspension cables. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures 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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Attain/maintain not possible
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 120.5 hours in all; 19.9 in this make and model; 20.9 in the last 90 days; 5.4 in the last 30 days; 68.8 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: none
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: commercial pilot, remote
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon; rotorcraft: unmanned (suas)
- Flight time: 6,500 hours in all; 38 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 6,490 as pilot in command; 1,500 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 1, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: none
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 38.3 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, August 21, 2025
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: N/A (none); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1L8 Hurricane UT at 4:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.67 inHg
- Observation at 10:56 am from KSGU, 17 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSGU 101756Z AUTO 15006KT 10SM CLR 02/M08 A3067
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures 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
3 documents, released by the NTSB on April 2, 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 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/cfi 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Investigation Photos | PDF, 3 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.
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 WPR26LA079.