Aerostar S-60A N3592Z
9 May 1999 · Clarkdale, Arizona, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 9 May 1999 at about 14:00 local time, a Aerostar S-60A registered N3592Z was involved in an accident near Clarkdale, Arizona, United States. 5 people were on board and one was seriously injured. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 14:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Clarkdale, Arizona, United States
- Coordinates
- 34.7895, -112.0990
- Aircraft
- Aerostar S-60A
- Registration
- N3592Z
- Category
- Balloon
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Black Canyon → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Not recorded
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX99LA178
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
Probable cause
The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain during a high wind condition. Contributing factors were the high winds and the tree.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot and four fare-paying passengers departed for a local sightseeing flight. The flight was uneventful. The passengers received safety briefings and wore helmets during the high wind landing, in an 8-knot wind. After touchdown, the pilot ripped out the balloon's top, but the basket was dragged about 10 feet before coming to rest in terrain which had vegetation over 1/2 of its surface. During the slide, a tree branch penetrated the basket through a passenger's step hole. The branch contacted a passenger's leg, which resulted in a serious injury.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Aerostar S-60A accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Oct 1997 | Aerostar S-60A | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | Ronald E. Hensley | No injuries | - |
| 10 Oct 1997 | Aerostar S-60A | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 9 Jun 1996 | Aerostar S-60A | San Angelo, Texas, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 4 Oct 2004 | Aerostar S-60A | Austin, Texas, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 11 Dec 1990 | Aerostar S-60A | Columbus, Ohio, United States | Icchc Corporation | Fatal | 4 |
| 25 May 2009 | Aerostar S-60A | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Mar 1999 | Boeing Stearman A75N1 | Mesa, Arizona, United States | Russell L. Allen | No injuries | - |
| 22 Mar 1999 | Piper PA-28-181 | Scottsdale, Arizona, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 7 Oct 1999 | Bell 206B | Apache Junction, Arizona, United States | Arizona Heliservices Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 9 Apr 1999 | Witzel GLASSAIR II FT | Casa Grande, Arizona, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 6 May 1999 | Widner RV-3A | Casa Grande, Arizona, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 20 Mar 1999 | Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415E | Kingman, Arizona, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |