# NTSB CEN23LA293: Aerostar International RX 8, N9184D, Canandaigua, NY, July 8, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 8, 2023, 19:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Canandaigua, NY - Coordinates: 42.843611, -77.343333 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8436&lon=-77.3433&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - 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 FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 192589 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA293 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192589/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192589 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA293 ## Probable cause 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. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aerostar International RX 8, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7487008), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Aerostar International RX 8, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=7487008), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); 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) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Aerostar International RX 8, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7487008), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis Following an uneventful flight, the pilot descended the balloon at a steep angle into a field lined with trees. The pilot had briefed the passengers on the proper brace position before the flight and then again just before the landing. The basket touched down firmly, slid about 15 ft, and stopped upright. The passenger reported that the hard landing pushed her knee into the gas tank that she was standing next to. The passenger stated that after the first hard landing the balloon bounced again and then tipped over. Following the landing the passenger experienced pain in her leg. It was later determined the passenger had a broken left tibia. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the balloon that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9184D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9184D), registered now, S/N RX8-3196, built 1994 (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: RX8-3196 - Year built: 1994 - Airframe hours: 406.5 - Damage: No damage - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon - Last inspection: Annual, April 24, 2023 - Departed: KIUA, Canandaigua, NY - Airport: None - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; commercial; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 28, 2023; seat: none; restraint: none; flight hours: 1,189 total, 400 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.85 inHg - Observed at: KPEO, 16 nm away - METAR: KPEO 082253Z AUTO VRB03KT 10SM CLR 25/16 A2985 RMK AO2 SLP101 T02500156 ## 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 20230708015399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230708015399A), Jul 8, 2023: Aerostar International Inc RX 8, Canandaigua, NY, No damage. On 7/8/23 balloon [privacy data omitted]. The FSDO received a voicemail from a balloon pilot , who reported an accident in his balloon. The pilot reported at… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 9, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192589. 2.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15807153&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ntsb%206120_1web_nopwx%20(CEN23LA293)_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement to FAA (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 165 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15789113&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement%20-%20CEN23LA293_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Passenger statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15806359&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN23LA293%20-%20Passenger%20Statement-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.