# NTSB BFO92LA082: Aerostar AX-9 - S-66A, N3604Y, Southhampton, NJ, May 24, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 24, 1992, 08:15 local (12:15 UTC)
- Place: Southhampton, NJ
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 5 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 26, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11805
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO92LA082
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11805/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO92LA082

## Probable cause

THE PILOT USED AN EXCESSIVE DESCENT RATE DURING LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS AN UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITION.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - descent - excessive (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE ENCOUNTERED ADVERSE WIND CONDITIONS, CAUSING HIM TO ABORT LANDINGS AT TWO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. CONSEQUENTLY, ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE MADE A STEEP APPROACH INTO 'THE LAST AVAILABLE FIELD'. HE TOLD THE PASSENGERS TO EXPECT A HARD LANDING, HOLD ON TIGHT, AND USE THEIR LEGS AS SHOCK ABSORBERS. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE BALLOON WAS DESCENDING AT 500 FEET/MINUTE FIVE SECONDS BEFORE THE LANDING. DURING THE LANDING, ONE OF THE FIVE PASSENGERS FELL DOWN AND INJURED HER BACK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3604Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3604Y-2018-01-18), registration cancelled 2018-01-18, S/N S66A-3034 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSTAR AX-9 - S-66A (AX-9 - S-6)
- Registry model: [Aerostar International S-66A](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-international-s-66a) (registry code 7486066) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: S66A-3034
- Airframe hours: 197
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: David P. Spais
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 20, 1992, 10 hours before
- Departed: MOORESTOWN, NJ

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; commercial, flight instructor; flight hours: 2,800 total, 700 in this make and model, 2,700 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point -0 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19920524056319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920524056319A), May 24, 1992: Raven S66A, Southhampton, NJ. Encountered adverse wind conditions. Had to descend steeply to make last open field. Hard impact,passenger injured

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.

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