# NTSB CHI02LA216: Aerostar International S-77A, N2867W, Custer, SD, July 27, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 27, 2002, 06:45 local (12:45 UTC) - Place: Custer, SD - Coordinates: 43.733333, -103.618331 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7333&lon=-103.6183&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor, 7 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 4, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Adminstration RAP FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 55329 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02LA216 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55329/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55329 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA216 ## Probable cause The pilot of the balloon did not maintain aircraft control. Factors contributing to the accident include the variable winds and the inadequate compensation for the wind conditions by the pilot in command. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - variable wind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis The aircraft experienced a hard landing while landing on an open prairie. The pilot reported that the balloon encountered increased winds at an altitude of approximately 200 feet. He stated that the lower level wind had picked up when he came in to land. He reported that he briefed his passengers for the landing, telling them to bend their knees and hold on. The pilot stated that the balloon contacted the ground on an upslope with a fairly steep incline just prior to the prairie and he pulled the top out of the balloon for fast deflation. According to the pilot, the balloon slid approximately 60 feet to the top of the incline and as it passed over the top of the incline the basket swung up and forward for about 30 to 40 feet. He stated that the basket then contacted the ground and slid to a rest within 50 to 60 feet. The pilot reported that another pilot in a balloon behind him used a GPS to check the winds while airborne. This pilot reported the winds were 27 miles per hour. An FAA Inspector who was at the balloon rally reported that approximately 10 minutes after the accident balloon's departure, the wind speed increased and the wind direction varied. He reported that this lasted for approximately 10 minutes then the winds calmed down. ## Factual narrative On July 27, 2002, at 0645 mountain daylight time, N2867W, an Aerostar International Balloon S-77A, experienced a hard landing in Custer, South Dakota. The pilot was not injured. One passenger was seriously injured, one passenger received a minor injury, and six passengers were not injured. The balloon was not damaged. The Title 14 CFR Part 91 business flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight originated in Custer, South Dakota, at 0600. According to the pilot's written statement, after takeoff the balloon encountered increased winds at an altitude of approximately 200 feet. The pilot reported that as they came out of a valley the winds picked up. He stated that he then dropped down to land on the open prairie and briefed the passengers for a landing on a sloped ridge. He reported that he told the passengers to "...bend their knees and hold on to the basket." The pilot stated, "Contacted the ground on slope of hill with fairly steep incline. Pulled top out of balloon for fast deflation." According to the pilot, the balloon slid approximately 60 feet to the top of the incline and as it passed over the top of the incline the basket swung up and forward for about 30 to 40 feet. He stated that the basket then contacted the ground and slid to a rest within 50 to 60 feet. During a telephone interview, the pilot reported that another pilot in a balloon behind him used a GPS to check the winds while airborne. This pilot reported the winds were 27 miles per hour. According to an inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration, he was attending a balloon rally in Custer at the time of the accident. He reported that he witnessed several balloons depart without incident at the same time as N2867W. According to the inspector approximately 10 minutes after their departure the wind velocity increased and direction varied. This lasted for about 10 minutes then the winds calmed down. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2867W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2867W-2018-01-03), registration cancelled 2018-01-03, S/N S77A-3002, built 1986 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aerostar International S-77A - Registry model: [Aerostar International S-77A](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-international-s-77a) (registry code 7487077) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 3002 - Airframe hours: 515 - Damage: No damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Scott E, Nash - Registered owner: Gary Born - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2002, 5.5 hours before - Departed: 3V0, Custer, SD - Destination: 3V0, Custer, SD - Airport: 3V0, Custer Park Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; commercial; last flight review February 1, 2002; flight hours: 385 total, 70 in this make and model, 385 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: CUT, 34 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 20020727016789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020727016789A), Jul 27, 2002: Raven S77A, Fairburn, SD, No damage. (-23) July 27, 2002, pilot scott nash notified the rap FSDO of an aircraft accident that occurred at 6:45 am at Custer State park. The aircraft reported was an… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 23, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55329. 459 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 459 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463889&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.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.