# NTSB MIA00LA179: Aerostar S57-A, N6341V, Windermere, FL, May 26, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 26, 2000, 12:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Windermere, FL - Coordinates: 28.490001, -81.529312 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.4900&lon=-81.5293&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 5 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49314 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA00LA179 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49314/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA179 ## Probable cause an in-flight collision with a tree. A factor in this accident was high wind conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with weather, standing - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor) - weather condition - updraft - Abrupt maneuver, standing - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The balloon was tethered with a three-point, 3/4-inch rope top harness system, anchored on the upwind sides to two trees and on the downwind side to a truck. The last four passengers boarded, and the pilot was waiting for the wind speed to decrease when the balloon was suddenly launched on its own and was thrown to the top of the harness, about 80 feet, in less then 2 seconds. The pilot initiated emergency procedures, but was unsuccessful in bringing the balloon back to the ground, because the force of the wind was pushing the balloon upward. The two upwind lines broke leaving the balloon dangling about 100 feet in the air over power lines. After 30 seconds the downwind line broke initiating free flight. The pilot was able to stabilize the balloon enough to initiate an emergency landing. The balloon impacted with trees about 1/8 of a mile downwind of the original tether site. ## Factual narrative On May 26, 2000, about 1200 eastern daylight time, an Aerostar S57-A balloon, N6341V, registered to a private individual impacted with trees during an emergency landing, while on a local sightseeing flight near Windermere, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The balloon received substantial damage. The commercial-rated pilot and four passengers reported no injuries. According to the pilot, the balloon was tethered with a three-point, 3/4-inch rope top harness system, anchored on the upwind sides to "two solid" old growth trees and on the downwind side to a truck. After several passengers were taken up without incident the last four passengers boarded. The pilot was waiting for a subsidence in wind when the balloon was suddenly launched on its own by "false lift" and was thrown to the top of the harness, about 80 feet, in less than 2 seconds. The pilot initiated vent top emergency "rip-out" procedures, but was unsuccessful in bringing the balloon back to the ground in this manner, because the force of the wind was pushing the balloon upward. The two upwind lines "snapped" leaving the balloon dangling about 100 feet in the air over power lines. The pilot stated, the power lines made "further 'rip-out' options too dangerous to consider." After 30 seconds the downwind line "snapped initiating free flight." The pilot was able to stabilize the balloon enough to initiate an emergency landing. The balloon impacted with trees about 1/8 mile downwind of the original tether site. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6341V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6341V), registered now, S/N S57A-3118, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aerostar S57-A - Registry model: [Aerostar International RAVEN S57-A](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-international-raven-s57-a) (registry code 7485057) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: S57A-3118 - Airframe hours: 500 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Registered owner: David M. Fuller - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; commercial; medical: unknown; flight hours: 78 total, 78 in this make and model, 43 as pilot in command, 37 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 5 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F ## 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 20000526013359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000526013359A), May 26, 2000: Windermere, FL, No damage. (-23) Ballon was tethered witha three point 3/4" rope harness, anchorred on the upwind sides to solid trees and on the downwind side to a truck. As 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. --- 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.