# NTSB WPR21LA155: Aerostar International RX 8, N9051Y, St. George, UT, November 29, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 28, 2020, 17:00 local (Nov 29, 2020, 00:00 UTC) - Place: St. George, UT - Coordinates: 37.072888, -113.52047 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0729&lon=-113.5205&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/800) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Other: Ground handling event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured; on the ground: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 102910 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA155 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102910/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102910 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA155 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the balloon and a member of the ground crews entanglement with a tether rope, which resulted in a serious injury when they fell to the ground after the balloon unexpectedly ascended. ## 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 RX 8, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7487008), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Ground crew (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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Other: Ground handling event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080) (defining event); cases with it: [Aerostar International RX 8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080/sequence.md?model=7487008), [All aircraft, 108 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the balloon reported that, after landing and while the ground crew were in the process of securing the balloon, the driver of the chase truck attempted to help secure the balloon by grabbing a rope tethered to the balloon. While placing the rope in the rope’s storage bag, the balloon unexpectedly ascended, and the driver’s glove became entangled between the rope and bag. The balloon ascended about 20 ft in the air, and while the pilot was pulling the red line to top the ascent, the driver’s glove released from the rope and bag. The driver fell to the ground sustaining a serious injury. The pilot subsequently landed the balloon without further incident or damage. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9051Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9051Y), registered now, S/N RX8-3156, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AEROSTAR INTERNATIONAL INC RX 8 - Registry model: [Aerostar International RX 8](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-international-rx-8) (registry code 7487008) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: RX8-3156 - Year built: 1992 - Airframe hours: 686.58 - Damage: No damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Scott J. Gneiting - Registered owner: Scott J. Gneiting - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon - Last inspection: Annual, July 19, 2020 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: N/A - Equipment: Satellite tracking device, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; commercial; last flight review November 20, 2020; seat: none; restraint: none; flight hours: 100.36 total, 100.36 in this make and model, 66.41 as pilot in command, 39.11 in the last 90 days, 13.46 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 51 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 27.22 inHg - Observed at: KSGU ## 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 20201128021579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201128021579A), Nov 28, 2020: Aerostar International Inc RX 8, St. George, UT, No damage. The location was not on the airport but took place in the town of st George, Utah. On November 28, 2020 at approximately 1700 MST the balloon pilot had just… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 20, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102910. 17.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 17.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12319615&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_Redacted-Rel.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.