# Incident 20230714010309I: Aerostar International Inc S-60A, Erie, CO, July 14, 2023

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 14, 2023, 06:50 local time
- Place: Erie, CO
- Damage: No damage
- Phase of flight: Ground/Ramp/Ma
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.0403° N, 105.0383° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Erie, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0403&lon=-105.0383&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2864E, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2864E) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aerostar International S-60A (registry code 7486060, https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-international-s-60a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSTAR INTERNATIONAL INC S-60A
- Reported engine: NONE NONE
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 842 total
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230714010309I

## Narrative

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

PILOT RECEIVED A GROUP WEATHER BRIEFING THAT WAS OBTAINED FROM THE NWS FOR THE BALLOON LAUNCH. WINDS WERE PREDICTED TO PICK UP AND CHANGE DIRECTION WITHIN TWO HOURS. SEVERAL BALLOONS FILLED UP AND 5 BALLOONS LAUNCHED. INCIDENT BALLOON WAS INFLATED BUT MOORED TO THE GROUND. NO PASSENGERS WERE INSIDE THE BASKET. A LARGE GUST OF WIND ENTERED THE AREA FROM THE ENE AND THE BASKET STARTED TO SLIDE ALONG THE GROUND. GROUND CREW MEMBERS GRABBED THE OUTSIDE OF THE BASKET TO ADD WEIGHT TO THE BALLOON. AS THE BALLOON BEGAN TO ASCEND MOST GROUND CREW MEMBERS LET GO OF THE BASKET. ONE GROUND CREW MEMBER HELD THE BASKET AND WAS LIFTED APPROXIMATELY 5-10 FEET OFF THE GROUND. THE GROUND CREW MEMBER LET GO AND FELL TO THE GROUND AND LANDED ON HER FEET AND THEN BACK. GROUND CREW MEMBER HAD PAIN IN HER BACK AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. NO DISCERNABLE INJURIES NOTED BY MEDICAL PERSONEL. MEDICINE GIVEN FOR BACK PAIN AND MUSCLE SPASMS.

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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