# NTSB DEN07CA163: Aerostar S81A, N5294D, Hartsel, CO, September 20, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 20, 2007, 08:45 local (14:45 UTC)
- Place: Hartsel, CO
- Coordinates: 38.150001, -105.133331
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1500&lon=-105.1333&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 29, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 66730
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN07CA163
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66730/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN07CA163

## Probable cause

the pilot's inability to maintain the proper descent rate. A factor contributing to the accident was the unfavorable wind conditions.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - proper descent rate - not obtained/maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - open field

## Analysis

According to the pilot, the departure and en route portion of the flight were normal.  While setting up for the landing, the pilot noted the wind was approximately 10 to 14 knots and "nothing was unusual."  During the touchdown,  "the initial impact was hard, followed by a small hop, and then a second impact." One passenger sustained serious injuries.

## Factual narrative

According to the pilot, the departure and en route portion of the flight were normal.  While setting up for the landing, the pilot noted the wind was approximately 10 to 14 knots and "nothing was unusual."  During the touchdown, the "initial impact was hard, followed by a small hop, and then a second impact." The basket came to rest upright. The pilot and three passengers were not injured and one passenger sustained a fractured lower leg.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5294D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5294D-2011-08-03), registration cancelled 2011-08-03, S/N S81A-3011, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Aerostar S81A
- 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: S-81A-3011
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Other work use, Part 91
- Operator: Colorado Rocky Ballooning, LLC, doing business as Colorado Hot Air Balloon Rides
- Registered owner: Colorado Rocky Ballooning LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: Hartsel, CO
- Destination: Hartsel, CO

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; commercial; flight hours: 1,025 total, 519 in this make and model, 66 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

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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