# NTSB WPR24LA029: Aerostar International RX 8, N50466, Page, AZ, November 4, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 4, 2023, 08:50 local (15:50 UTC) - Place: Page, AZ · 8th Ave Page, AZ - Coordinates: 36.916306, -111.45503 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9163&lon=-111.4550&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 22, 2025 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Balloon the Rockies, Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 193360 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA029 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193360/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193360 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA029 ## Probable cause A hard landing after both burner pilot lights extinguished during the landing approach for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inability to relight the burner pilot lights. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Aerostar International RX 8, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=7487008), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aerostar International RX 8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000/cases.md?model=7487008), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000/cases.md) - [Power plant](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Aerostar International RX 8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md?model=7487008), [All aircraft, 198 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Aerostar International RX 8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=7487008), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Aerostar International RX 8, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7487008), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the balloon reported that while selecting an alternate landing area, both burners failed to ignite. The pilot unsuccessfully attempted to restart both burners with the piezo igniters. The pilot then took out a butane lighter to manually relight a pilot light, but he still could not relight it in time to arrest the balloon’s descent. The pilot informed the passengers that they were going to hit the ground hard. The basket hit a parked car, tilted downward momentarily, and then bounced off the road. After the basket contacted the ground and climbed 6 to 10 feet above ground level, one of the passengers fell out of the balloon and sustained a serious injury. With one fewer passenger, the balloon began to ascend. During that time, the pilot found one of the blast valves operative. No further malfunctions were observed for the duration of the flight. A functional test and burner examination was completed with no defects noted that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On November 4, 2023, at 0850 mountain standard time, an Aerostar International Inc. RX-8 balloon, N50466, was not damaged when it was involved in an accident near Page, Arizona. One passenger was seriously injured; the pilot and another passenger were not injured. The balloon was operated as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, on the morning of the event the balloon crew arrived about 0630.and the balloon envelope was offloaded and prepared for flight. Both burners indicated normal operating pressures of about 110 psi, which was above the manufacturer’s minimum requirement of 44 psi. Each burner was ignited using its dedicated piezoelectric starter, and both functioned properly. Passengers were given a safety briefing, and at 0800 the balloon launched on its first flight. The flight was uneventful. After landing, the balloon was reboarded, and a second safety briefing was provided to two new passengers. During the second flight, the balloon ascended to 6,200 feet before the pilot initiated a descent to an altitude with winds more favorable for returning to the launch site. When winds shifted, the pilot selected an alternate landing area. After clearing a set of powerlines, the pilot planned to land on a road between single-level apartments. About 10 yards beyond the powerlines, while maintaining level flight, the pilot attempted to initiate a burn with either burner. Neither burner ignited. The pilot made multiple restart attempts with the piezoelectric ignition system but was unsuccessful. The pilot then attempted to use a secondary ignition source—a butane lighter—but this attempt also failed The balloon began descending toward the intended landing site on the road between the single-level apartments. The pilot advised the passengers to prepare for a hard landing. The balloon’s basket impacted the top edge of a parked vehicle, which caused the basket to rotate beyond the horizontal position (i.e., the basket laid over on its side tilting down). As the basket righted itself, one passenger fell out of the basket from about six to ten feet above the ground, sustaining serious injuries. The balloon and basket were not damaged. Immediately after the accident, the weight reduction from the missing passenger caused the balloon to ascend. At that time, the pilot activated the blast valve and noted that one of the burners began to function properly. He surmised that the pilot light may have been successfully ignited with the butane lighter before impact. He then opened the “metering” valve to allow a small flame to be constantly burning in case of another pilot light issue. The balloon then landed uneventfully. The pilot reported that, upon landing, the fuel gauges each indicated approximately 50% to 55% of the fuel remaining in the tanks. The owner’s manual for the Aerostar International Inc. RX-8 stated in part for burner relighting procedures. “Should the pilot light become extinguished: 1. Open meteringvalve to allow very low flow. 2. Use igniter or similar heat source to relight burner. 3. Maintain metering valve at low setting to serve as pilot light. 4. Check that pilot light valves are open at burner and tank. 5. If pilot relights, continue flight as normal. 6. If pilot does not relight, land as soon as practical. If relight of any pilot source is impossible: 7. Prepare for emergency/hard landing.” The burners and their ignition systems were removed for postaccident inspection and a test run. Operational and functional checks, including ignition system testing, were completed with no defects noted; the reported malfunction could not be duplicated. The fuel (propane) tanks were not removed for testing. The burners were configured such that one 18-gallon propane tank connected to each burner; there was no cross-feed plumbed between the two burners or tanks. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N50466](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N50466), registered now, S/N RX8-3372, built 2003 (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: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: RX8-3372 - Year built: 2003 - Airframe hours: 298.9 - Engines: Aerostar Zone 5 Turbo Burners RX-8 - 3372 none - Damage: No damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon - Last inspection: Annual, May 17, 2023 - Departed: Page City Park, AZ - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: PGA, Page Muni - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; commercial; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 25, 2023; seat: none; flight hours: 890 total, 890 in this make and model, 870 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 12 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 30.30 inHg - Observed at: KPGA, 2 nm away - METAR: KPGA 041553Z AUTO 25003KT 10SM CLR 12/M09 A3030 ## 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 20231104017799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231104017799A), Nov 4, 2023: Aerostar International Inc RX 8, Page, AZ, No damage. On November 4, 2023, at 08:46 mountain standard time (MST), an Aerostar international, inc. RX-8 hot air balloon [privacy data omitted] operated by an FAA hot… ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 22, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193360. 7.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 15 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16429252&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR24LA029%206120%201%20Form%202018_Watson_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Maintenance / pilot records (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19261891&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=logbooks_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Mor - serious injury (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 61 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19368446&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20case%20intake%20DO-Rel.pdf - Owners manual operational limitations 2-3 excerpt (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19365405&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=OM%20Operational%20Limitations%202-3%20excerpt-Rel.pdf - Flight manual section 6 burner description excerpt (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 255 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19365163&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=B.3105-FMS_USBEA_edition_3_rev0_US%20Flight%20manual%20SEC%206%20Description%20Burners%20excerpt-Rel.pdf - Emergency procedures excerpt (item 6, PDF, 2 pages, 24 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19403223&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N50466%20Emergency%20Procedure%20Excerpt-Rel.pdf - Balloon burner exam summary (item 7, PDF, 11 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19262210&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Burner%20Exam%20Summary-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 8, PDF, 4 pages, 821 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18805221&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR24LA029%20Photo%20%20array-Rel.pdf - Certification of party representative form (item 9, PDF, 14 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18805796&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Party%20Form%20Balloon%20the%20Rockies%20WPR24LA029_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.