# NTSB investigations: Aerostar International RX 8

NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports.

## Latest cases

- [NTSB WPR26LA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA021.md): Aerostar International RX 8 · Albuquerque, NM · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Oct 6, 2025 · N5315M · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a power line during a descent for landing.
- [NTSB WPR24LA029](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA029.md): Aerostar International RX 8 · Page, AZ · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Nov 4, 2023 · N50466 · No damage
  > A hard landing after both burner pilot lights extinguished during the landing approach for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inability to relight the burner pilot lights.
- [NTSB CEN23LA293](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA293.md): Aerostar International RX 8 · Canandaigua, NY · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 8, 2023 · N9184D · No damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain the proper descent rate during the balloon’s approach to landing, which resulted in a hard landing, the passenger’s leg hitting the gas tank, and serious injury.
- [NTSB CEN22LA238](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA238.md): Aerostar International RX 8 · Hot Springs, SD · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 8, 2022 · N9158Z · No damage
  > The passenger lost her grip during landing in a balloon which resulted in her hitting the ground with her shoulder and suffering a serious injury.
- [NTSB WPR21LA155](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA155.md): Aerostar International RX 8 · St. George, UT · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Nov 29, 2020 · N9051Y · No damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the balloon and a member of the ground crews entanglement with a tether rope, which resulted in a serious injury when they fell to the ground after the balloon unexpectedly ascended.
- [NTSB ERA17LA029](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA029.md): Aerostar International RX8 · Mount Ulla, NC · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 22, 2016 · N9015Y · Minor damage
  > The passenger's failure to follow the pilot's instructions for properly securing herself during landing, which resulted in her serious injury when the balloon landed hard and the basket was dragged.
- [NTSB CEN17CA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17CA013.md): Aerostar RX-8 · Albuquerque, NM · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 2, 2016 · N5161Y · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improperly planned landing, which resulted in a strike with power lines.
- [NTSB WPR16LA070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16LA070.md): Aerostar International RX8 · Petaluma, CA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Feb 13, 2016 · N3647A · Minor damage
  > The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind during the landing approach, which resulted in the balloon’s basket impacting a metal fence and a passenger sustaining serious injuries.
- [NTSB CEN16LA030](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA030.md): Aerostar RX8 · Albuquerque, NM · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 10, 2015 · N5294Q · No damage
  > The pilot's delay in deflating the balloon envelope completely after landing, which resulted in a loss of control due to a wind gust.
- [NTSB CEN13LA347](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA347.md): Aerostar International RX 8 · Arvada, CO · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 8, 2013 · N7059U · Substantial damage
  > The balloon's encounter with unforecast strong gusting wind, which resulted in a high-wind landing. Contributing to the accident was the National Weather Service's misjudgment of the timing and underestimation of the magnitude of the frontal boundary moving…
- [NTSB CEN13LA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA032.md): Aerostar International RX8 · Albuquerque, NM · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 10, 2012 · N90550 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to attain the desired touchdown point because of wind conditions and surrounding obstructions, which resulted in the balloon impacting a fence during the approach to landing.
- [NTSB CEN10CA015](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA015.md): Aerostar International RX8 · Albuquerque, NM · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 8, 2009 · N4014J · Minor damage
  > The pilot’s failure to select an adequate landing area.
- [NTSB DEN08LA007](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08LA007.md): Aerostar RX 8 · Albuquerque, NM · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 9, 2007 · N5315M · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inability to maintain aircraft control due to high winds, resulting in the aircraft coming in contact with an arroyo and a wall in a residential area.
- [NTSB CHI06LA208](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI06LA208.md): Aerostar International RX 8 · Claremont, MN · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 21, 2006 · N3639Q · No damage
  > The procedure not followed by the passenger during landing and the inadequate supervision of the passenger by the pilot during landing. A contributing factors were the barbed wire fence.
- [NTSB DEN06CA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN06CA069.md): Aerostar International RX 8 · Albuquerque, NM · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · Apr 22, 2006 · N7142S · No damage
  > the pilot's inability to maintain a proper descent rate due to the high winds, resulting in a hard landing. A contributing factor was the high wind conditions.
- [NTSB LAX06CA012](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06CA012.md): Aerostar RX-8 · Globe, AZ · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 8, 2005 · N5161Y · Substantial damage
  > the pilot's encounter with a wind gust during landing.
- [NTSB DFW05CA223](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW05CA223.md): Aerostar International RX-8 · Denton, TX · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 19, 2005 · N6339G · No damage
  > The passenger's failure to follow landing instructions, which resulted in serious injury. A contributing factor was the high wind.
- [NTSB NYC04LA017](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04LA017.md): Aerostar RX-8 · Ithaca, NY · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 25, 2003 · N3597H · Minor damage
  > The pilot's excessive descent rate during the execution of a high wind landing. A factor was the high winds.
- [NTSB DEN03LA130](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA130.md): Aerostar RX-8 · Snowmass Villag, CO · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 16, 2003 · N35965 · 2 aircraft · Substantial damage
  > the failure of the pilot of balloon #2 to maintain clearance from balloon #1 while overtaking him.
- [NTSB NYC03LA143](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03LA143.md): Aerostar International RX 8 · Grove City, OH · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 21, 2003 · N71696 · No damage
  > The passengers failure to maintain her balance inside the balloon basket.
- [NTSB DEN01LA099](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN01LA099.md): Aerostar RX-8 · Sterling, CO · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 15, 2001 · N4031A · Minor damage
  > failure by the pilot to control descent rate during approach to land. A factor was a temperature inversion.
- [NTSB LAX99FA177](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99FA177.md): Aerostar Rally RX-8 · Morgan Hill, CA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 9, 1999 · N70290 · Destroyed
  > The pilot's selection of an inadequate takeoff site that did not allow sufficient horizontal clearance from obstacles in the takeoff path, and, his failure to ensure that all burners were connected to fuel sources, which reduced the available climb capability…
- [NTSB FTW98LA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA009.md): Cameron N-90 · Albuquerque, NM · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 10, 1997 · N1602R · 2 aircraft · Substantial damage
  > The failure of the pilot of the Aerostar RX 8, N71415, to follow procedures/directives.
- [NTSB FTW97LA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA069.md): Aerostar RX-8 · Rio Rancho, NM · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Dec 22, 1996 · N6310T · Minor damage
  > The pilot's inadvertent flight into high wind.
- [NTSB FTW97LA023](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA023.md): Aerostar RX 8 · Albuquerque, NM · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 8, 1996 · N3581D · No damage
  > A sudden increase in wind velocity.
- [NTSB MIA96LA177](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA96LA177.md): Aerostar RX-8 · Canton, MS · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 4, 1996 · N7155N · Substantial damage
  > failure of the pilot to maintain sufficient altitude and/or clearance from the tower.
- [NTSB LAX96LA089](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA089.md): Aerostar RX-8 · Lucerne Valley, CA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Dec 30, 1995 · N70107 · Substantial damage
  > the balloon's encounter with unexpected high wind conditions, and the pilot's inability to stop the balloon prior to contacting ground obstructions.
- [NTSB FTW96LA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA055.md): Aerostar RX8 · Rio Rancho, NM · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 26, 1995 · N6360U · No damage
  > The pilot's improper planning/decision. A factor relating to the accident was: the high wind condition.
- [NTSB FTW96LA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA013.md): Aerostar RX 8 · Albuquerque, NM · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 10, 1995 · N9153X · No damage
  > The pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision. The variable wind condition was a related factor.
- [NTSB DEN90LA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN90LA005.md): Aerostar RX-8 · Albuquerque, NM · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 8, 1989 · N3581D · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's selection of an unsuitable area (terrain) for landing. The static cable & power line were considered to be related factors.
- [NTSB ATL80FKQ06](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL80FKQ06.md): Air Tractor AT301 · Flora, MS · Accident · Minor injuries · Closed · Jun 4, 1980 · N3648Y · Destroyed

## The whole list in SQL

Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS:

```sql
SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url
FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1
WHERE c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('7487008'))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb?model=7487008

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