# Accident 20030715016412A: Aerstr S71A, 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
- Collision: Midair collision, second 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: N5047C, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5047C-2018-01-23) (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: 8
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 177 total, 22 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030715016412A

## Narrative

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

(-23) GREGORY WELLENS LIFTED OFF FROM SNOWMASS RANCH WITH 7 PASSENGERS ON BOARD AT 6 AM ON JULY 15, 2003, ON A COMMERCIAL FLIGHT IN AEROSTAR S71A BALLOON (175CU') IN ASPEN CO. ONE MILE WEST OF ASPEN, AT AROUND 150 FEET HIS BALLOON OVERTOOK N35965, A SMALLER BALLOON WITH 2 PASSENGERS ABOARD AND STRUCK ON THE UPPER THIRD OF THE ENVELOPE WITH THE BASKET. THE BASKET OF THE LARGER THEN HELD THE LOAD TAPE OF THE SMALLER BASKET AND TRIED TO RISE. MR. WOOD YELLED TO THE GREG WELLENS TO RELEASE HIS BALLOON-WHICH WAS ACCOMPLISHED. WELLEN'S BALLOON RECEIVED NO DAMAGE AND LANDED 15 MINUTES LATER-NO INJURIES. WILL AMEND BLOCKS 32 AND 42 AFTER MORE INTERVIEWS WITH PILOTS.

## Other aircraft in the event

- N35965, Arostr RX8: [Accident 20030715016411A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030715016411A)

## 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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