# Accident 20240913013619A: Aerostar International Inc RX-7, Charlton, NY, September 13, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 13, 2024, 18:15 local time
- Place: Charlton, NY
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.9544° N, 74.0119° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9544&lon=-74.0119&mi=10
- Aircraft: N53081, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N53081) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aerostar International RX-7 (registry code 7487007, https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-international-rx-7) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSTAR INTERNATIONAL INC RX-7
- Reported engine: NONE NONE
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 53 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA24LA382](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA382) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240913013619A

## Narrative

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

ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2024, A MANNED BALLOON OPERATED BY A SINGLE PILOT AND NO ADDITIONAL PERSONS ON BOARD CONTACTED UTILITY LINES DURING DESCENT TO A FIELD FOR LANDING. CONTACT WITH THE UTILITY LINES RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE BALLOON INCLUDING THE FAILURE OF TWO SETS (3LINES EACH) OF FLYING WIRES WHICH SECURE THE ENVELOPE TO THE BASKET AND BURNS TO THE SCOOP. THE BASKET CAME TO REST ON THE GROUND BELOW THE UTILITY WIRES AND THE ENVELOPE WAS ENTANGLED IN THE WIRES. WORKERS FROM THE UTILITY COMPANY IDENTIFIED A BLOWN FUSE, ENSURED THE LINES WERE DEENERGIZED AND THE BALLOON ENVELOPE WAS REMOVED FROM THE WIRES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ACCIDENT AND NO ADDITIONAL DAMAGE IDENTIFIED.

## 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 ERA24LA382](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA382), Sep 13, 2024: Aerostar International RX-7 (N53081), Amsterdam, NY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from powerlines during final approach for landing.

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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