No fatalities

Passenger Injured During Balloon Landing on Soft Sand

Albuquerque, NM, United States

On August 4, 2009, a LINDSTRAND BALLOONS 240A operated by RAINBOW RYDERS INC was involved in an aviation accident near Albuquerque, NM. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: A run-on landing of the balloon causing the basket to tip over, resulting in a passenger's injury. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 14 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

A sight-seeing balloon landed in soft sand at about 10 mph, slid 15 feet, and tipped over. One passenger reported arm pain and was later diagnosed with a broken arm.

Incident Overview

During a sight-seeing flight, the pilot identified a suitable landing area and briefed the passengers for the landing. The pilot reported that the balloon landed in soft sand at an estimated speed of 10 miles per hour. Upon touchdown, the basket slid approximately 15 feet before tipping over and coming to rest on its side.

Post-Landing Events

After the balloon came to a stop, the pilot began assisting passengers out of the basket. One passenger complained of pain in her right arm and shoulder area. She was subsequently transported to a hospital, where medical examination determined that she had suffered a broken arm.

Investigation Notes

No further details regarding the cause of the incident or the specific conditions at the landing site were provided in the source. The pilot's account of the landing speed and the basket's slide were documented as part of the initial report.

Contributing factors

Causes

Aircraft oper/perf/capability — Not attained/maintained

Other contributing factors

Effect on operation