# NTSB CHI03LA173: Aerostar S-55A, N5253Y, Monroe, WI, June 21, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 20, 2003, 20:40 local (Jun 21, 2003, 01:40 UTC) - Place: Monroe, WI - Coordinates: 42.615001, -89.590835 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6150&lon=-89.5908&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Milwuakee FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 57286 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI03LA173 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57286/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA173 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the transmission wires during landing and his decision to jump from the balloon. A factor to the accident was the power transmission lines. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, landing - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - bail-out/emergency ejection - performed, pilot in command (cause) - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot received serious injuries when he exited his balloon while attempting to land. The pilot stated that as he made his approach he saw he was below power transmission lines. According to the pilot he made an attempt to go over the lines but was unable to, at which time the pilot decided to exit the balloon. The pilot reported that he jumped from the basket at approximately 8 to 10 feet above the ground. The pilot stated that upon landing he broke his ankle. ## Factual narrative On June 20, 2003, at 2040 central daylight time, an Aerostar S-55A balloon, N5253Y, piloted by a commercial pilot, impacted wires while attempting to land near Monroe, Wisconsin. The pilot reportedly jumped from an altitude of about 10 feet above the ground level prior to the balloon impacting the wires. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The balloon subsequently landed in an adjacent field and was undamaged. The flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The balloon departed Monroe, Wisconsin at 1900. The pilot reported participating in a hot air balloon competition at the time of the accident. According to his statement he had landed previously, however, the ground crew was not able to obtain permission from the landowner to retrieve the balloon. The pilot decided to continue the flight and flew to the next available site, the parking lot of a local business. The pilot reported that as he made his approach he saw he was below power transmission lines. The pilot stated he made one "quick burn," but was unsuccessful in clearing the lines. According to the pilot he decided to allow the balloon to continue on it's descent track, and exit the balloon when it was closest to the ground. The pilot stated that he exited the basket approximately 8 to 10 feet above the ground, breaking his ankle upon landing. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures prior to the accident. A post-accident examination revealed no damage to the balloon. The weather reported at Monroe Municipal Airport at 2034 was: wind calm; visibility 10 statute miles and clear. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5253Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5253Y-2017-07-18), registration cancelled 2017-07-18, S/N S55A-3082, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aerostar S-55A - Registry model: [Aerostar International S-55A](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-international-s-55a) (registry code 7485002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: S55A-3082 - Airframe hours: 207 - Damage: No damage - Flight: Air race/show, Part 91 - Operator: Richard D. Newman - Registered owner: The Manuel Company - Last inspection: Annual, May 12, 2003, 4 hours before - Departed: Monroe, WI - Destination: Monroe, WI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: serious; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; last flight review November 10, 2001; flight hours: 441 total, 315 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: KEFT, 4 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 20030620027069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030620027069A), Jun 20, 2003: Raven S55A, Monroe, WI. (-23) A full stop landing was accomplished at 2010 in a cut hay field. No one near by for crew to receive land owner permission. Competition event requires… 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.