# NTSB DEN00LA146: Aerostar S-77A, N5164R, Steamboat Spgs, CO, August 6, 2000

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 6, 2000, 08:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Steamboat Spgs, CO
- Coordinates: 40.450332, -106.82093 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4503&lon=-106.8209&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 5 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 18, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 49928
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN00LA146
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49928/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA146

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a bush during the balloon landing.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, landing
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - other

## Analysis

According to the pilot, he instructed passengers on landing procedures and techniques.  He said that during the landing sequence, the balloon came down short of the intended spot and impacted a small bush.  The 'basket tipped to an angle of 45 degrees, then righted itself.'  During this unexpected degree of tipping, one of four passengers broke her ankle.  The pilot said the weather was not a factor.

## Factual narrative

On August 6, 2000, approximately 0830 mountain daylight time, an Aerostar International, Inc., S-77A balloon, N5164R, was not damaged when collided with a bush during landing near Steamboat Springs, Colorado.  The commercial pilot and four passengers were not injured; however, one passenger was seriously injured.  The balloon was being operated by Pegasus Balloon Tours under Title 14 CFR Part 91.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight that originated approximately 60 minutes before the accident.  No flight plan had been filed.

According to the pilot, he instructed passengers on landing procedures and techniques.  He said that during the landing sequence, the balloon came down short of the intended spot and impacted a "small bush."  The "basket tipped to an angle of 45 degrees, then righted itself."  During this unexpected degree of tipping, the passenger broke her ankle.

The pilot said the weather was not a factor.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5164R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5164R-2013-06-12), registration cancelled 2013-06-12, S/N S77A-3028, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Aerostar 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: S77A-3028
- Airframe hours: 131
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91
- Registered owner: Ian Cox
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 7, 2000, 33 hours before
- Departed: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; flight instructor, commercial; medical: unknown; flight hours: 2,970 total, 51 in this make and model, 2,970 as pilot in command, 48 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 100° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: HDN

## 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 20000806013099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000806013099A), Aug 6, 2000: Raven S77A, Steamboat Sprin, CO, No damage. (-23) Balloon basket tipped on landing because of a bush being in the field. Woman passenger 72 years old lost her balance slipped and broke an ankle. The four…

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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