Lindstrand 260A N261RR

Summary

On 2 March 2026 at about 14:20 local time, a Lindstrand 260A registered N261RR was involved in an accident near Casa Grande, Arizona, United States. 13 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 March 2026 at 14:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Casa Grande, Arizona, United States

Coordinates

32.8139, -111.7096

Aircraft

Lindstrand 260A

Registration

N261RR

Category

Balloon

Year built

2012

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR26LA118

1 person had minor injuries.

The hot air balloon’s encounter with downdraft wind conditions in mountainous terrain and subsequent impact with terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.