# NTSB CHI00LA295: Aerostar S-81A, N9174Z, Custer, SD, September 12, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 12, 2000, 08:15 local (14:15 UTC) - Place: Custer, SD - Coordinates: 43.760089, -103.599754 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7601&lon=-103.5998&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 11 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 17, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50247 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI00LA295 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50247/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA295 ## Probable cause The ground crew's failure to maintain control of the balloon until all passengers were disembarked. A factor related to the accident was the gust of wind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, standing - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - aircraft handling - inadequate, ground personnel (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, other - object - wire,static ## Analysis A passenger fractured her leg while exiting the balloon. The passenger reported, "The basket bounced 3 or 4 times hard - one bounce approx 5'. The pilot ordered people to get out - one at a time. Passengers and ground crew were trying to hold the basket down. Everybody got off except me. Then a gust of wind took the balloon and tilted it over and I got out. It was at that point it broke my leg." The pilot reported that the passenger fractured her leg when she tripped after having exited the basket. He reported that after all the passengers were out of the basket, a small gust of wind carried the balloon about 100 feet into some power lines where it received several small holes. ## Factual narrative On September 12, 2000, at 0815 mountain daylight time, N9174Z, an Aerostar S-81A hot air balloon, received minor damage during a landing in Custer, South Dakota. One passenger received a fractured leg while exiting the basket. The pilot and 10 other passengers were not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 business flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. The flight originated in Custer, South Dakota, at 0715 mountain daylight time. The pilot reported that at the conclusion of the flight, 10 of the 11 passengers on board exited the basket. He reported that the 11th passenger tripped and cracked one of her leg bones after she exited the balloon. The pilot reported that after all the passengers were out of the basket, a small gust of wind carried the balloon about 100 feet into some power lines where it received several small holes. The injured passenger reported that during the landing, "The basket bounced 3 or 4 times hard - one bounce approx 5'. The pilot ordered people to get out - one at a time. Passengers and ground crew were trying to hold the basket down. Everybody got off except me. Then a gust of wind took the balloon and tilted it over and I got out. It was at that point it broke my leg." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9174Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9174Z-2015-05-07), registration cancelled 2015-05-07, S/N S81A-3001, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aerostar S-81A - Registry model: [Aerostar International S81A](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-international-s81a) (registry code 7487907) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 581A-3001 - Airframe hours: 601 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Blackhill Balloons - Registered owner: Box Canyon LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 1999, 81 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; commercial; medical: unknown, unknown; flight hours: 2,170 total, 400 in this make and model, 2,170 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 147 °F, dew point 99 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CUT ## 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 20000912036919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000912036919A), Sep 12, 2000: Aerstr S81A, Custer, SD, No damage. (-23) This accident occurred during a commercial balloon sightseeing tour operated by black hills balloons of Custer, SD. After landing, wind carried envelope… ## Other investigations on N9174Z (1) 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. - [NTSB CHI95LA262](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA262), Aug 8, 1995: Aerostar S-81-A (N9174Z), Custer, SD, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's inadequate evaluation of the weather conditions. 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.