# NTSB CEN22LA159: Aerostar International RXS-8, N9106Q, Yutan, NE, March 28, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 27, 2022, 19:10 local (Mar 28, 2022, 00:10 UTC) - Place: Yutan, NE - Coordinates: 41.246084, -96.39584 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2461&lon=-96.3958&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Cabin safety event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 3 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 104855 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA159 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104855/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104855 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA159 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper brace during landing which resulted in a serious injury during the landing sequence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Physical characteristic](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02011000): Personnel issues › Physical · Pilot; cases with it: [Aerostar International RXS-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02011000/cases.md?model=7487009), [All aircraft, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02011000/cases.md) - [Physical workspace: positioning/available space](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03041010): Environmental issues › Task environment · Effect on personnel; cases with it: [Aerostar International RXS-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03041010/cases.md?model=7487009), [All aircraft, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03041010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Cabin safety event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110) (defining event); cases with it: [Aerostar International RXS-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110/sequence.md?model=7487009), [All aircraft, 151 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Aerostar International RXS-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7487009), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he conducted a steep approach to a field with the intention of landing in between two obstacles. The balloon cleared the first obstacle with a descent rate of 250 ft per minute. The basket touched down on its short side, near the corner. The pilot was thrown forward and down as he pulled the red line; his foot caught on the basket wall then twisted. The balloon bounced once or twice before it came to rest on its side. The pilot reported that there were no anomalies with the balloon that would have precluded normal operations. The balloon sustained minor damage and the passengers were not injured; however, the pilot sustained a serious ankle injury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9106Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9106Q), registered now, S/N RXS8-3027, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AEROSTAR INTERNATIONAL INC RXS-8 - Registry model: [Aerostar International RXS-8](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-international-rxs-8) (registry code 7487009) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: RXS8-3027 - Year built: 1993 - Airframe hours: 303 - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon - Last inspection: Annual, March 29, 2021 - Departed: Omaha, NE - Destination: Same as departure - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: serious; private; last flight review October 30, 2020; seat: none; restraint: none; flight hours: 45 total, 28 in this make and model, 33 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 10 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: KAHQ, 9 nm away - METAR: KAHQ 272355Z AUTO 10006KT 10SM CLR 04/M12 A3019 RMK AO2 T00371124 10044 20012 ## 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 20220327006689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220327006689A), Mar 27, 2022: Aerostar International Inc RXS-8, Yutan, NE, Minor damage. On March 27, 2022 N9106Q, an Aerostar RXS-8 hot air balloon, departed at 1815 local time from a launch site on the western edge of omaha, Nebraska with one… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 22, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104855. 6.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 6.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13755669&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20printed_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation - pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 158 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13760055&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20PILOT%20508-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.