# NTSB WPR11CA435: Aerostar International S-60A, N7154E, Park City, UT, September 6, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 6, 2011, 09:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Park City, UT - Coordinates: 40.669723, -111.404724 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6697&lon=-111.4047&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor - Status: Completed, report December 13, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 81719 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11CA435 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81719/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81719 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA435 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the balloon during the landing on uneven ground. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aerostar International S-60A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7486060), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Aerostar International S-60A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=7486060), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Aerostar International S-60A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7486060), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Aerostar International S-60A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7486060), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, during the landing approach, she noted that the wind had changed direction and increased to about 5 knots. The pilot identified a suitable place to land, and, after clearing power lines, she made a steep approach. The balloon touched down on uneven ground and the basket tipped. The pilot was venting the balloon at the time and when the basket touched down, the vent line pulled her partially out of the basket. The basket dragged across the ground a few feet before becoming airborne again, and the pilot continued to hang onto the vent line. The two passengers then jumped out of the basket and the vent line was ripped out of the pilot’s hands. The balloon continued flight, unoccupied, and landed approximately 1/2 mile from the intended landing location. During the accident sequence, the balloon was torn and the skirt was burnt. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that after an uneventful sight-seeing balloon flight with two passengers, she initiated a landing when it was noted that the wind had changed direction and picked up speed to about 5 knots. A suitable place to land was identified, and after clearing power lines, a steep approach to land was made. The balloon touched down on uneven ground and the basket tipped. The pilot was venting at the time and when the basket touched down, the vent line pulled her partially out of the basket. The basket drug across the ground a few feet before becoming airborne again as the pilot continued to hang onto the vent line. The two passengers then jumped out of the basket and the vent line was ripped out of the pilot’s hands. The balloon continued flight and landed approximately ½ mile from the intended landing location. During the accident sequence the balloon was torn and the skirt was burnt. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7154E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7154E-2021-11-06), registration cancelled 2021-11-06, S/N S60A-3210 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AEROSTAR INTERNATIONAL INC S-60A - Registry model: [Aerostar International S-60A](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-international-s-60a) (registry code 7486060) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: S60A-3210 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Park City, UT - Destination: Park City, UT - Flight plan: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; injuries: minor; commercial; flight hours: 215 total, 215 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20110906018729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110906018729A), Sep 6, 2011: Aerostar International Inc S-60A, Park City, UT, Minor damage. Wind conditions became gusty after take off. Pilot made hard landing while landing in gusty conditions. ## Other investigations on N7154E (1) 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. - [NTSB FTW98LA010](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA010), Oct 10, 1997: Aerostar S-60A (N7154E), Albuquerque, NM, no damage. Probable cause: The passenger failing to follow the pilot's instructions as to the proper brace position to assume for landing. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 28, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81719. 441 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 441 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356773&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.