# NTSB FTW03LA135: Aerostar RX-8, N7172D, Bossier City, LA, April 19, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 19, 2003, 07:40 local (12:40 UTC) - Place: Bossier City, LA - Coordinates: 32.446388, -93.825553 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4464&lon=-93.8256&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards - NTSB case key (mKey): 56846 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW03LA135 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56846/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA135 ## Probable cause The failure of the passenger to follow the pilots landing instructions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, landing - procedures/directives - not followed, passenger (cause) ## Analysis During an approach for landing the pilot instructed the passengers to face the direction of flight, hold on tight, and do not get out of the balloon until he told them to. Just prior to contacting the ground, he shook the basket to make sure the passenger's knees were bent for impact. As the pilot was making the landing, he informed everyone what to expect again and that the basket would tip over and rebound before coming to a complete stop. When the balloon landed, the pilot's handheld radio fell to the floor of the basket and one of the passengers reached down to pick it up. As the balloon "rebounded or skidded" along the ground for approximately 6 feet, the passenger hit her face on the propane tank injuring her back and neck. ## Factual narrative On April 19, 2003, at 0740 central daylight time, an Aerostar RX-8 hot-air balloon, N7172D, owned and operated by a private individual doing business as American Escapes Aerosports was undamaged during landing near Bossier City, Louisiana. The commercial pilot and two of the three passengers were not injured, and one passenger sustained a serious injury. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight which originated from Frierson, Louisiana, at 0705 and was destined for Shreveport, Louisiana. The pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that approximately 5 miles southwest of Barksdale Air Force Base, he attempted to contact the tower on 128.25. After trying for four times with no response, he elected to land and avoid any problems with the base. After finding a suitable landing area, during an approach for landing he instructed the passengers to face the direction of flight, hold on tight, and do not get out of the balloon until he told them to. He set the balloon into some 12-14 foot trees to ease the impact of landing and to slow the balloon down. Just prior to contacting the ground, he shook the basket to make sure the passenger's knees were bent for impact. The pilot further reported as he was making the landing, he informed everyone what to expect again and that the basket would tip over and rebound before coming to a complete stop. When the balloon landed, the pilot's handheld radio fell to the floor of the basket and one of the passengers reached down to pick it up. As the balloon "rebounded or skidded" along the ground for approximately 6 feet, the passenger hit her face on the propane tank injuring her back and neck. The pilot stated that he assisted the passenger by holding her so she didn't move as he deflated the balloon. The pilot then radioed the balloon chase crew and informed them to call 911. He then provided assistance to the passenger until the EMS unit arrived. The pilot further reported that the passenger underwent neck surgery the following day. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7172D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7172D-2011-05-02), registration cancelled 2011-05-02, S/N RXS8-3071, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aerostar RX-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: 7172D - Damage: No damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Pat Harwell - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 15, 2002 - Departed: Frierson, LA - Destination: Shreveport, LA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; commercial; last flight review November 10, 2002; flight hours: 1,080 total, 600 in this make and model, 800 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 11 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg ## 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 20030419008259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030419008259A), Apr 19, 2003: Arostr RXS8, Bossier City, LA. (-23) The pilot briefed the passenger prior to landing. The pilot laid his hand held radio on the top of the propane tank. As the balloon contacted the ground,… 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.