# Accident 20030215002979A: Aerstr S71A, Scottsdale, AZ, February 15, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 15, 2003, 10:00 local time
- Place: Scottsdale, AZ
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Other Ground Ops
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.7333° N, 111.9333° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7333&lon=-111.9333&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5285M, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5285M) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aerostar International S-71A (registry code 7487072, https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-international-s-71a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERSTR S71A
- People aboard: 7
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 10,800 total, 100 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX03LA099](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA099) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030215002979A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON FEBRUARY 20, 2003, ABOUT 1000 MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME, AN AEROSTAR S-71A BALLOON, N5285M, MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING BETWEEN POWER LINES NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF JOMAX STREET AND SCOTTSDALE ROAD, SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA. AFTER LANDING, WHILE THE PILOT AND PASSENGERS WERE STILL INSIDE THE BASKET, THE ENVELOPE STRUCK A POWER LINE. A VOLT OF ELECTRICITY STRUCK THE WIRE PYROMETER AND SENT ELECTRICITY THROUGH THE ENVELOPE AND BASKET. THE BASKET AND ENVELOPE WERE SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE CERTIFICATED AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT AND FIVE PASSENGERS WERE NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE LOCAL AREA SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED FROM THE CORNER OF SCOTTSDALE ROAD AND HIGHWAY 101 IN SCOTTSDALE ABOUT 0830 THE MORNING OF THE ACCIDENT. THE FLIGHT WAS SCHEDULED TO TERMINATE IN THE SAME GENERAL LOCATION. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE HAD RECEIVED WEATHER BRIEFINGS FROM THE PRESCOTT FLIGHT SERVICE STATION (FSS), AS WELL AS DEER VALLEY AIRPORT AND SCOTTSDALE AIRPORT. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE PILOT INDICATED THAT THERE WERE NO WINDS AND HE WAS USING MORE FUEL THAN NORMAL. HE WAS TRAVERSING POWER LINES AT AN ANGLE WHENHE NOTED AN OPEN AREA BETWEEN POWER LINES. HE ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN THE AREA. AFTER TOUCHDOWN THE ENVELOPE "LEANED" OVER AND STRUCK A POWER LINE. (-23) PILOT WAS CONDUCTING A SIGHT-SEEING FLIGHT IN HOT AIR BALLOON. THE WEATHER WAS BROKEN CLOUDS AT APPROXIMATELY 2000 FEET MSL. DURING THE FLIGHT THE BALLOON FLEW OVER POWERLINES. AT THAT TIME THE WIND SHIFTED AND KEPT PILOT OVER THE POWERLINES. PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MANEUVER BALLOON TO A HIGHER ALTITUDE DUE TO CLOUDS ABOVE HIM. AS TIME PAST, FUEL BECAME CRITICAL AND THE PILOT WAS FINALLY ABLE TO MANEUVER THE BALLOON BETWEEN POWER LINES AND TOUCHED DOWN SAFELY. WHILE THE ENVELOPE WAS DEFLATING IT STRUCK POWERLINES CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE ENVELOPE AND BASKET. NO INJURIES TO PASSENGERS OR PILOT.

## 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 LAX03LA099](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA099), Feb 15, 2003: Aerostar International S-71A (N5285M), Scottsdale, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's inadequate in-flight decision to cross over four sets of power lines with the existence of a known low fuel state and lack of wind, and failure to maintain altitude/clearance from the…

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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