# NTSB CHI95LA262: Aerostar S-81-A, N9174Z, Custer, SD, August 8, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 8, 1995, 07:10 local (13:10 UTC)
- Place: Custer, SD
- Coordinates: 43.759071, -103.600318 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7591&lon=-103.6003&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 6 minor
- Status: Completed, report April 29, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 9979
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI95LA262
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9979/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA262

## Probable cause

the pilot's inadequate evaluation of the weather conditions.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

During the landing phase of a local sightseeing balloon flight, a sudden gust of wind forced the balloon across a road into trees, after which there was a hard landing. Twenty-five miles to the northeast of the accident site a weather observation 24 minutes after the accident reported a windshift and frontal passage.

## Factual narrative

On August 8, 1995, at 0710 mountain daylight time, an Aerostar S- 81-A (hot air balloon), N9174Z, registered to and operated by Black Hills Balloons of Custer, South Dakota, was substantially damaged during a hard landing one and one-half miles north of Custer, South Dakota.  The pilot and five passengers reported minor injuries.  Two passengers sustained serious injuries.  The 14 CFR Part 91 sightseeing hot air balloon was operating in visual meteorological conditions.  No flight plan was on file.  The flight departed from an open field near Custer, South Dakota, at 0615.

The pilot stated, "Upon landing an incredible gust of wind picked the balloon up and carried it across the road into some pine trees."

A weather special observation taken 25 miles to the northeast of the accident site at 0737, contained in the remarks section the notation that there was a windshift at 0734 with frontal passage.  The previous surface observation at 0650 reported wind as 120 degrees at 6 knots; whereas the special observation at 0737 reported wind as 010 degrees at 13 knots.

## 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-81-A
- 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: 3001
- Airframe hours: 130
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Black Hills Balloons
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 1995, 50 hours before
- Departed: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; flight instructor, commercial; medical: unknown, unknown; flight hours: 1,800 total, 125 in this make and model, 1,690 as pilot in command, 180 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: RAP, 25 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 19950808023759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950808023759A), Aug 8, 1995: Custer, SD, Substantial damage. On sight seeing flight. Sudden wind gust forced balloon across road into trees and hard landing. Blamed dust devil.(.4) during the landing phase of a local…

## 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 CHI00LA295](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA295), Sep 12, 2000: Aerostar S-81A (N9174Z), Custer, SD, minor damage. 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.

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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