# NTSB DEN01LA099: Aerostar RX-8, N4031A, Sterling, CO, May 15, 2001

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 15, 2001, 07:45 local (13:45 UTC)
- Place: Sterling, CO
- Coordinates: 40.619861, -103.190368 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6199&lon=-103.1904&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report November 1, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 52270
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN01LA099
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52270/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN01LA099

## Probable cause

failure by the pilot to control descent rate during approach to land.  A factor was a temperature inversion.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing
  - weather condition - temperature inversion (contributing factor)
  - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

At the completion of a local area passenger flight, the balloon encountered a temperature inversion during approach.  The pilot did not adequately adjust for the increased rate of descent and a hard landing occurred.  The pilot was thrown from the balloon and one of the passengers jumped.  The balloon then ascended and the balloon crew chief talked the remaining passenger through a successful landing.  The pilot received serious injuries and her two passengers minor injuries.

## Factual narrative

On May 15, 2001, at 0745 mountain daylight time, an Aerostar RX-8 balloon, N4031A sustained minor damage during a hard landing at Sterling, Colorado.  The private pilot received serious injuries, and her passengers minor injuries.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this local area flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91.  No flight plan was filed.  The flight departed at 0700.

According to the pilot, during approach for landing in a flat farm field, the balloon descended faster than planned due to a  temperature change and increased winds.  When the basket struck the ground, the pilot was thrown partially out and after a bounce the basket struck the ground again causing the pilot to be thrown completely out.  The pilot said that one passenger then jumped out of the basket and she (the pilot) held on to the vent line.  Due to the decrease in weight, the balloon ascended and the pilot let go of the vent line.  The balloon continued to fly with one passenger (not a pilot) aboard.  The crew chief talked the passenger through the process and the balloon was landed by the passenger.

The balloon sustained pyrometer cable damage during the event.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4031A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4031A), registered now, S/N RX8-3288, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Aerostar RX-8
- Registry model: [Aerostar International RX 8](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-international-rx-8) (registry code 7487008) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: RX8-3288
- Airframe hours: 162
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Ginger  & Thomas C. Delaney
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 11, 2000, 1 hours before
- Departed: STERLING, CO
- Airport: N/A

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; injuries: serious; private; last flight review July 4, 2000; flight hours: 344 total, 153 in this make and model, 312 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F

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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