- Date
- March 20, 2024, 19:03 local (Mar 21, 2024, 00:03 UTC)
- Place
- Rochester, MN
- Injuries
- 2 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N5236RAerostar International S53A
- Defining event
- Approach-VFR go-around: Collision during takeoff/land
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- 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 - Minneapolis FSDO
- FAA report
- 20240320002639A
- Case key
- 193972
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines while landing in a field.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that as he was attempting to land the hot air balloon in a field, the wind shifted and increased in speed. The pilot attempted to abort the landing but was unable to arrest the ballon’s descent. The balloon contacted power lines which resulted in an electrical arc and a shower of sparks. The arc severed 12 of the 16 flying wires, and the remaining flying wires failed in a manner consistent with overload. The basket separated from the envelope and came to rest on its side. The balloon sustained substantial damage to the flying wires, attachment hardware, and the basket support structure. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation. The wind at the time of the accident was 350° at 9 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5236R
- Reported as
- Aerostar International S53A
- Category
- Balloon
- Serial number
- S53A-3091
- Built
- 2005
- Airframe hours
- 170
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Balloon
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 22, 2024
- Departed
- Rochester, MN
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 67
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 19, 2023
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- None
- Flight hours
- 852 total · 700 in this make and model · 3 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 350° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 27 °F, dew point -2 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.16 inHg
- Observed at
- KRST, 4 nm away
- METAR
- KRST 210000Z AUTO 35009KT 10SM M03/M19 A3016 RMK T10301190 MADISHF,M
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 11, 2024, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 7.4 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.