# NTSB CHI07LA317: Aerostar International S81A, N5069B, Custer, SD, July 17, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 17, 2007, 07:15 local (13:15 UTC)
- Place: Custer, SD
- Coordinates: 43.76007, -103.600639 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7601&lon=-103.6006&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 12 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 28, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 67467
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI07LA317
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67467/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07LA317

## Probable cause

The high wind during landing.  Contributing to the accident was the encounter with adverse weather during the flight.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flight into adverse weather - encountered, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high wind (cause)
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

The pilot reported that at the time of the balloon launch, the winds were calm, but during landing the winds were "a little stronger than forecast but nothing unusual for the Hills..."  He stated that he briefed the passengers for a windy landing, and the balloon landed "...going to 10-12 mph."  The basket then tipped over on its side and slid 20 feet across grass and a "few" rocks. The passenger reportedly received a broken ankle during landing.

## Factual narrative

On July 17, 2007, at 0715 mountain daylight time, an Aerostar International Inc. S81A, N5069B, was being operated as a sightseeing flight when a passenger sustained serious injuries during landing near Custer, South Dakota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed on the day of the accident. The 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan.  The pilot and 11 other passengers were uninjured. The local flight originated at 0630 near Custer, South Dakota.

The pilot provided a written statement in which he states that at the time of the balloon launch, the winds were calm, but during landing the winds were "a little stronger than forecast but nothing unusual for the Hills... ."  He stated that he briefed the passengers for a windy landing, and the balloon landed "...going to 10-12 mph."  The basket then tipped over on its side and slid 20 feet across grass and a "few" rocks.

The passenger reportedly received a broken ankle during landing.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5069B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5069B), registered now, S/N S81A-3016, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Aerostar International Inc. S81A
- 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: S81A-3016
- Airframe hours: 148.1
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Other work use, Part 91
- Registered owner: Black Hills Balloons Inc
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 1, 2006
- Departed: Custer, SD

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; commercial; last flight review July 1, 2006; flight hours: 1,979 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observed at: RAP

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 20070717825719I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070717825719I), Jul 17, 2007: Aerstr S81A, Pringle, SD, No damage. (-23) On 7/17/07 at 0700 a balloon owned by black hills balloons landed hard during an air tour flight. The aircraft was not damaged, and one passenger…

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.

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