# Accident 20030715016411A: Arostr RX8, Aspen, CO, July 15, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 15, 2003, 06:25 local time
- Place: Aspen, CO
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Collision: Midair collision, first aircraft
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.1952° N, 106.8368° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Aspen, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1952&lon=-106.8368&mi=10
- Aircraft: N35965, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N35965-2013-09-24) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aerostar International RX 8 (registry code 7487008, https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-international-rx-8) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AROSTR RX8
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 880 total, 880 in this make and model
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030715016411A

## Narrative

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

(-23) BRUCE WOOD LIFTED OFF FROM SNOWMASS RANCH AT 6 AM ON JULY 15, 2003, ON A COMMERCIAL FLIGHT IN AEROSTAR RALLY 8B BALLOON (90CU') IN ASPEN CO WITH TWO PASSENGERS ABOARD. ONE MILE WEST OF ASPEN, AT AROUND 150 FEET ALTITUDE, HIS BALLOON WAS OVERTAKEN BY A LARGER (175CU') N5047C BALLOON WITH 7 PASSENGERS ABOARD AND WAS STRUCK ON THE UPPER THIRD OF HIS CRAFT RIPPING A HOLE BY THE BASKET OF THE OTHER BALLOON. THE BASKET OF THE LARGER THEN HELD THE LOAD TAPE OF THE SMALLER BASKET AND TRIED TO RISE. MR. WOOD YELLED TO THE OTHER OPERATOR (GREG WELLENS) TO RELEASE HIS BALLOON-WHICH WAS ACCOMPLISHED. WOOD THEN, UNDER FULL POWER AND A 30' BY 15' HOLE IN HIS BALLOON GUIDED THE BALLOON TO A CONTROLLED SAFE LANDING WITH NO INJURIES. WILL AMEND BLOCKS 32 AND 42 AFTER MORE INTERVIEWS WITH PILOTS.

## Other aircraft in the event

- N5047C, Aerstr S71A: [Accident 20030715016412A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030715016412A)

## NTSB investigation

None matched to this report by aircraft and date. Search the NTSB's own records: https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/basic-search

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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