# Accident 20000912036919A: Aerstr S81A, Custer, SD, September 12, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 12, 2000, 08:15 local time
- Place: Custer, SD
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.7601° N, 103.5998° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7601&lon=-103.5998&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9174Z, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9174Z-2015-05-07) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aerostar International S81A (registry code 7487907, https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-international-s81a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERSTR S81A
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI00LA295](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA295) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000912036919A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) THIS ACCIDENT OCCURRED DURING A COMMERCIAL BALLOON SIGHTSEEING TOUR OPERATED BY BLACK HILLS BALLOONS OF CUSTER, SD. AFTER LANDING, WIND CARRIED ENVELOPE AND DRAGGED BASKET ALONG GROUND. PILOT INSTRUCTED PASSENGER ONE AT A TIME WHEN TO EXIT. AS ENVELOPE AND BASKET WERE BEING PUSHED TOWARD POWER LINES, LAST PASSENGER JUMPED OUT OF BASKET FRACTURING HER LEG IN TWO PLACES. THE BALLOON ENVELOPE HAD MINOR TEARS FROM CONTACT WITH BARBED WIRE FENCE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI00LA295](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA295), Sep 12, 2000: Aerostar S-81A (N9174Z), Custer, SD, minor damage. Probable cause: The ground crew's failure to maintain control of the balloon until all passengers were disembarked. A factor related to the accident was the gust of wind.

## Other reports on N9174Z (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19950808023759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950808023759A), Aug 8, 1995: N9174Z, Custer, SD, Substantial damage. On sight seeing flight. Sudden wind gust forced balloon across road into trees and hard landing. Blamed dust devil.(.4) during the landing phase of a local…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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