# NTSB WPR16LA070: Aerostar International RX8, N3647A, Petaluma, CA, February 13, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 13, 2016, 08:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Petaluma, CA - Coordinates: 38.290832, -122.624168 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2908&lon=-122.6242&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 16, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA Oakland FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 92716 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR16LA070 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92716/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92716 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16LA070 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind during the landing approach, which resulted in the balloon’s basket impacting a metal fence and a passenger sustaining serious injuries. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aerostar International RX 8, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7487008), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Aerostar International RX 8, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=7487008), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Aerostar International RX 8, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md?model=7487008), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Aerostar International RX 8, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=7487008), [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Aerostar International RX 8, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7487008), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Aerostar International RX 8, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=7487008), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot was making an approach to a field for landing at the end of the sightseeing flight. During the approach, he misjudged the wind, which pushed the balloon near a metal fence and resulted in the balloon's basket striking the fence. The pilot then landed the balloon safely on an adjacent road. The balloon sustained minor damage, and a child passenger, who was sitting down in the basket, sustained serious injuries. ## Factual narrative On February 13, 2016, about 0830 Pacific standard time, an Aerostar International Inc. RX-8 hot air balloon, N3647A, impacted a fence during an approach to a field in Petaluma, California. The balloon was owned and operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules, revenue sightseeing flight under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 when the accident occurred. The pilot and two passengers were not injured, and one child passenger sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. In a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge, the pilot stated that he was making an approach to a field for landing at the end of the sightseeing flight. During the approach, he misjudged the wind, and the balloon was blown near a pipe fence, striking the fence with the basket. A child passenger, who was sitting down in the basket, sustained serious injuries during the event. After striking the fence, the balloon landed safely on an adjacent road. The balloon sustained minor damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3647A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3647A), registered now, S/N RX8-3064 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AEROSTAR INTERNATIONAL RX8 - 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: E8-3064 - Year built: 1990 - Airframe hours: 634 - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Sowers William H - Registered owner: Sowers William H - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon - Last inspection: Annual, June 8, 2015 - Departed: Petaluma, CA - Destination: Petaluma, CA - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; commercial; last flight review April 30, 2015; seat: none; restraint: none; flight hours: 1,768 total, 1,000 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.28 inHg - Observed at: KSTS, 15 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). - [Incident 20160213004709I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160213004709I), Feb 13, 2016: Aerostar International Inc RX 8, Petaluma, CA, Minor damage. 0700; Passengers assembled for a balloon sightseeing tour with ?balloon over sonoma?. Preflight and passenger briefing was completed at 0730. Current weather… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 18, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92716. 578 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 578 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40440233&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.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.