# NTSB DEN03LA130: Aerostar RX-8, N35965, Snowmass Villag, CO, July 16, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 16, 2003, 06:30 local (12:30 UTC) - Place: Snowmass Villag, CO - Coordinates: 39.331665, -106.985275 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3317&lon=-106.9853&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 10 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 57481 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03LA130 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57481/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA130 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) the failure of the pilot of balloon #2 to maintain clearance from balloon #1 while overtaking him. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) the failure of the pilot of balloon #2 to maintain clearance from balloon #1 while overtaking him. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, cruise - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - Midair collision, cruise - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) Balloon #1 N35965 departed approximately 1 to 2 minutes after balloon #2 N5047C departed. Balloon #2 had proceeded slightly west of a creek bed. Approximately 1 mile down the creek bed, #1 passed #2. Two miles further down the creek bed, #2 had obtained a faster ground speed and began to close in on balloon #1. The pilot of balloon #2 initiated an accent to climb up and over balloon #1. The basket of balloon #2 impacted the envelope of balloon #1 approximately 20 feet down from the top of the balloon causing substantial damage to the envelope. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) Balloon #1 N35965 departed approximately 1 to 2 minutes after balloon #2 N5047C departed. Balloon #2 had proceeded slightly west of a creek bed. Approximately 1 mile down the creek bed, #1 passed #2. Two miles further down the creek bed, #2 had obtained a faster ground speed and began to close in on balloon #1. The pilot of balloon #2 initiated an accent to climb up and over balloon #1. The basket of balloon #2 impacted the envelope of balloon #1 approximately 20 feet down from the top of the balloon causing substantial damage to the envelope. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 2) See narrative DEN03LA130A. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 1) On July 16, 2003, at approximately 0630 mountain daylight time, an Aerostar RX-8 balloon, N35965, was substantially damaged when it collided with another Aerostar S-71A balloon, N5047C, near Snowmass Village, Colorado. The commercial pilot and his two passengers aboard N35965, and the commercial pilot and his six passengers aboard N5047C were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. Both flights were being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plan had been filed for the local flights that originated at approximately 0610. According to both pilots, balloon #1, N35965 (a 90,000 cubic foot balloon), departed from Snowmass Village approximately 1 to 2 minutes after balloon #2, N5047C (a 175,000 cubic foot balloon). Both balloons proceeded down the "Brush Creek Valley floor at an altitude of 10 feet to 100 feet agl." Balloon #2 had proceeded slightly west of the creek bed. Approximately 1 mile down the creek bed, #1 passed #2. Two miles further down the creek bed, #2 had obtained a faster ground speed and began to close in on balloon #1. Verbal contact was established between the two balloon pilots, noting the variance in speed and direction of travel. The pilot of balloon #2 initiated an accent to climb up and over balloon #1. The pilot of balloon #1 attempted to maintain level flight to allow balloon #2 to pass clear. The basket of balloon #2 impacted the envelope of balloon #1 approximately 20 feet down from the top of the balloon. The pilot and passengers of balloon #2 attempted to push balloon #1 away. Balloon #2 continued to climb and the basket snagged the envelope of balloon #1, tearing the balloon envelope. The pilot of balloon #2 was able to separate the envelope from the basket and continue to climb. The pilot of balloon #1 made a forced landing and the pilot of balloon #2 continued flight for approximately 1 mile. Both balloons landed without further incident. According to CFR Part 91, Chapter 113, (b) "When a rule of this section gives another aircraft the right-of-way, the pilot shall give way to that aircraft and may not pass over, under or ahead of it unless well clear." (f) "Overtaking. Each aircraft that is being overtaken has the right-of-way..." ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N35965](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N35965-2013-09-24), registration cancelled 2013-09-24, S/N RX8-3004, built 1989 (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: RX8-3004 - Airframe hours: 451.6 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 6, 2003, 5.7 hours before - Departed: NONE, Snowmass Villag, CO ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N5047C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5047C-2018-01-23), registration cancelled 2018-01-23, S/N S71A-3022, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aerostar S-71A - Registry model: [Aerostar International S-71A](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-international-s-71a) (registry code 7487072) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: S71A-3022 - Damage: No damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Adventures Out West - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 27, 2003 - Departed: NONE, Snowmass Villag, CO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N35965; age 37; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; last flight review June 23, 2003; flight hours: 880 total, 288 in this make and model, 797 as pilot in command, 39 in the last 90 days, 33 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N5047C; age 30; injuries: none; commercial; last flight review November 1, 2002; flight hours: 177 total, 22 in this make and model, 161 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.45 inHg - Observed at: ASE, 2 nm away 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.