# NTSB NYC03LA143: Aerostar International RX 8, N71696, Grove City, OH, June 21, 2003

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 21, 2003, 08:00 local (12:00 UTC)
- Place: Grove City, OH
- Coordinates: 39.849998, -83.116668
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8500&lon=-83.1167&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 28, 2004
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 57380
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC03LA143
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57380/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03LA143

## Probable cause

The passengers failure to maintain her balance inside the balloon basket.

## Sequence of events

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

- Miscellaneous/other, landing - flare/touchdown
  - miscellaneous (cause)

## Analysis

As the balloon was setting down, the basket "wobbled a little," and a passenger slipped on the floor, breaking her ankle.

## Factual narrative

On June 21, 2003, at 0800 eastern daylight time, an Aerostar International Inc. RX 8 balloon, N71696, was not damaged while landing in a field near Grove City, Ohio.   The certificated private pilot and a passenger were not injured; however, a second passenger was seriously injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the pilot, he was participating in the Big Bear Balloon Festival competition called, "Hare and Hound."   As the balloon was setting down, the basket "wobbled a little," and a passenger slipped on the floor, breaking her ankle.

The pilot reported that the winds were calm at the time of the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N71696](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N71696), registered now, S/N RX8-3265 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Aerostar International 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: 3265
- Airframe hours: 122
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Air race/show, Part 91
- Registered owner: Eugene Planck
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 12, 2003, 2 hours before
- Departed: NONE, Grove City, OH
- Airport: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; private; last flight review July 20, 2002; flight hours: 381 total, 381 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: CMH, 22 nm away

## 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 20030621019979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030621019979A), Jun 21, 2003: Arostr RX8, Grove City, OH. (-23) After completing the approach to drop the marker during a "hare and hound" competition (see order 8700.1, volume 2, chapter 49, section 1, paragraph…

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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