# Incident 20040605015069I: Arostr RX8, Clermont, FL, June 5, 2004

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 5, 2004, 12:55 local time
- Place: Clermont, FL
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Other Ground Ops
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 28.5241° N, 81.7236° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Clermont, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.5241&lon=-81.7236&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3645Q, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3645Q-2017-07-12) (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: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040605015069I

## Narrative

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

(-23) "INDUSTRIAL INCIDENT-NO INTENT TO FLY" ON JUNE 5, 2004 AT APPROXIMATELY 1250 HRS. WHILE MOORED AT THE HARLEY DAVIDSON SHOP OF CLERMONT, HOT AIR BALLOON REGISTRATION N3645Q PILOTED BY MR. ROBERT WILAMOSKI COMMERCIAL PILOT CERTIFICATE #263396518 WAS PARTICIPATING IN A DEALERSHIP PROMOTION. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE BALLOON HAD BEEN MOORED FOR APPROX. 90 MINUTES HOVERING 50 FT. OFF THE GROUND, AS SUDDEN STORM CLOUDS APPEARED, THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO LAND AND DEFLATE THE BALLOON WHEN A SUDDEN STRONG GUST OF WIND (DESCRIBED BY WITNESSES AS A "MICRO BURST"), RESULTED IN THE BALLOON BECOMING AIRBORNE AND BREAKING FREE FROM 4 OF THE 5 TETHERED LINES. AS THE BALLOON STRUCK A TENT, THEN A BUILDING ROOF, AND FINALLY THE EMBANKMENT ADJACENT TO HIGHWAY 27. THERE WERE TWO MINOR INJURIES, ONE FEMALE DEALERSHIP EMPLOYEE WHO WAS IN THE BASKET WITH THE PILOT, AND ONE MALE OBSERVER WHO GRABBED ONE OF THE ROPES USED TO MOOR THE BALLOON. BOTH INJURED PARTIES WERE TREATED AND RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL. THE BALLOON SUSTAINED A MINOR FABRIC TEAR, AND NO DAMAGE TO THE BASKET OR OTHER EQUIPMENT.

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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