Probable cause
The passenger’s inadequate brace position for the balloon landing, which resulted in a serious injury.
NTSB analysis
The pilot of the balloon stated that at the conclusion of the local flight, he was making an approach for landing near a field. At 15 feet above the ground, the pilot pulled out the top of the balloon and landed without a bounce. The balloon then dragged across the ground for 20 feet and came to rest. Prior to landing, the passengers were briefed for a possible hard landing. The pilot noticed that one passenger did not assume the proper brace position. That passenger was seriously injured during the landing and the balloon was not damaged.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN13CA018 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Oct 10, 2012
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Highest injury
- Serious
- Serious injuries
- 1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Arbc Inc Dba Lindstrand 90A
- N-number
- N230LB
- Category
- Balloon
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.