# NTSB DEN00LA015: Aerostar RXS-8, N9105Z, Artesia, NM, November 6, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 6, 1999, 08:15 local (15:15 UTC) - Place: Artesia, NM - Coordinates: 32.839427, -104.430854 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8394&lon=-104.4309&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 21, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47800 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN00LA015 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47800/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA015 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command ## Analysis Prior to landing, the pilot observed the winds to be between 10 and 12 knots, and she briefed her passengers on high wind landing procedures, specifically with regard to proper positioning for landing. Upon landing, the balloon's basket tipped and one of the passengers (weighing over 300 lbs.) lost his hold on the basket and fell on top of the second passenger (weighing 150 lbs.). The passenger who was fallen on received a broken ankle. ## Factual narrative On November 6, 1999, approximately 0815 mountain standard time, an Aerostar RXS-8 balloon, N9105Z, registered to and operated by the pilot, was not damaged when it landed hard near Artesia, New Mexico. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured; however, one passenger received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at 0745. According to the pilot, she received a weather briefing at 0600 on the morning of the accident. The winds were reported to be between 5 to 8 knots and diminishing. Takeoff was normal, and they remained airborne for 30 minutes. While descending, she observed the winds to be between 10 and 12 knots. She stated that she briefed her passengers on high wind landing procedures. According to the Aerostar RXS-8 flight manual, the pilot is instructed to brief the passengers to: a. Put on protective helmets immediately; b. Face direction of travel; c. Hold on to basket aluminum superstructure; d. Bend knees slightly, muscles tense; e. Observe landing progression; and f. Remain in basket until instructed otherwise. Upon landing, the basket tipped and one of the passengers (weighing over 300 lbs.) lost his hold on the basket and fell on top of the second passenger (weighing 150 lbs.). The passenger that was fallen on suffered a broken ankle. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9105Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9105Z-2006-06-07), registration cancelled 2006-06-07, S/N RXS8-3024, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aerostar RXS-8 - Registry model: [Aerostar International RXS-8](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-international-rxs-8) (registry code 7487009) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: RXS8-3024 - Engines: unknown - Damage: No damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Nicole A. Sylvester - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: NONE, NM ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; private; medical: unknown, unknown; flight hours: 45 total, 37 in this make and model, 30 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 360° at 8 knots, gusting 12 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F ## 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 19991106036959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991106036959A), Nov 6, 1999: Arostr RXS8, Artesia, NM. (.4) Prior to landing, the pilot observed the winds to be between 10 and 12 knots, and she briefed her passengers on high wind landing procedures, specifically… ## Other investigations on N9105Z (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 DEN99LA010](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99LA010), Oct 10, 1998: Aerostar RXS8 (N9105Z), Albuquerque, NM, no damage. Probable cause: The high wind condition and the pilot's subsequent intentional hard touchdown. A factor was the small landing area that was available to the pilot. 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.