# NTSB CEN22LA238: Aerostar International RX 8, N9158Z, Hot Springs, SD, June 8, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 8, 2022, 06:45 local (12:45 UTC) - Place: Hot Springs, SD · 3.7 NE of HSR - Coordinates: 43.368306, -103.38827 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3683&lon=-103.3883&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 105228 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA238 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105228/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105228 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA238 ## Probable cause 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. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Physical characteristic: strength](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02011020): Personnel issues › Physical · Passenger (probable cause); cases with it: [Aerostar International RX 8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02011020/cases.md?model=7487008), [All aircraft, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02011020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Aerostar International RX 8, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=7487008), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while slowing the balloon and preparing for landing, he briefed the passengers how to position themselves and where to hold on for landing. During the landing upon contact with the ground, the basket “pitched forward” and the female passenger lost her grip. Her shoulder struck the ground and the male passenger fell on top of her. After the balloon came to a full stop, the female passenger complained of extreme shoulder pain. During a postaccident medical examination, it was determined that the female passenger suffered a broken clavicle. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9158Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9158Z), registered now, S/N RX8-3380, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AEROSTAR INTERNATIONAL INC RX 8 - Registry model: [Aerostar International RX 8](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-international-rx-8) (registry code 7487008) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: RX8-3380 - Year built: 2008 - Airframe hours: 275.62 - Damage: No damage - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Registered owner: Wilson Petra - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon - Last inspection: Annual, November 9, 2021 - Departed: Hot Springs, SD - Airport: None, Hot Springs - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; last flight review July 20, 2021; seat: none; restraint: none; flight hours: 499 total, 8 in this make and model, 439 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 47 °F - Altimeter: 3007.00 inHg - Observed at: HSR, 2.5 nm away ## 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 20220608021589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220608021589A), Jun 8, 2022: Aerostar International Inc RX 8, Hot Springs, SD, No damage. Sight seeing balloon landed hard on bend of cheyenne river 3.75 miles NE of hsr airport. Pilot saw that wind on surface had increased and briefed passengers on… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 29, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105228. 4.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 4.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14008487&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN22LA238%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 106 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14028740&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20conversation%20with%20Judith%20Lynn%20Giger-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.