Lindstrand 260A accident near Casa Grande, Arizona, March 2, 2026
On March 2, 2026 at about 2:20 pm local time, a 2012 Lindstrand 260A (balloon), registered N261RR, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Casa Grande, Arizona. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 12 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The hot air balloon’s encounter with downdraft wind conditions in mountainous terrain and subsequent impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 2, 2026 · about 2:20 pm local time
- Place
- Casa Grande, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 12 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Lindstrand 260A, built 2012
- Registration
- N261RR · registry record · serial 5520
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the hot air balloon reported that while conducting a sight-seeing flight with multiple passengers, the balloon approached a mountain where it encountered downdrafts, causing the balloon to sink and its ground speed to increase. The pilot attempted but was unable to arrest the sink rate using the balloon’s propane flame burners. The pilot directed the passengers to sit down in the basket, as they had been briefed prior to the flight. The passenger basket impacted a rock on the mountain terrain, incurring substantial damage to a structural wooden skid and a structural metal tube. The basket then became airborne again and the pilot continued the flight to a safe landing zone. According to the pilot, a passenger who remained standing during the accident sequence received a minor injury. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the balloon that 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 enroute (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Downdraft › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 1,755 hours in all; 1,200 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 1,755 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 5, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: none
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 655 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 2026; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,994 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: N/A (none); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 6:56 am from KCGZ, 9 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KCGZ 021356Z AUTO 08005KT 10SM CLR 14/M01 A2994 RMK AO2 SLP130 T01391011 $=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 11 |
Photographs from the investigation 4 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Hot air balloon basket, overview
Photograph 2 – Fractured U-Tube
Photograph 3 – Fractured wood basket structure
Photograph 5 – Fractured wood skid structureThe 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 May 21, 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 |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Pilot | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 5 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.
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.