Aerostar RX-8 N3597H
25 October 2003 · Ithaca, New York, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 25 October 2003 at about 12:40 local time, a Aerostar RX-8 registered N3597H was involved in an accident near Ithaca, New York, United States. 4 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was slightly damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 12:40
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Ithaca, New York, United States
- Coordinates
- 42.4372, -76.6089
- Aircraft
- Aerostar RX-8
- Registration
- N3597H
- Category
- Balloon
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Ithaca → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Minor
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- NYC04LA017
People
2 people were seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Probable cause
The pilot's excessive descent rate during the execution of a high wind landing. A factor was the high winds.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The hot air balloon pilot reported that he checked the weather the night before, and again on the morning of the flight. At the takeoff site, the pilot released three PIBALS over a period 45 minutes during which time, the winds lessened to the point that the pilot felt he could safely make the flight. The pilot reported that he briefed the passengers to bend their knees at touchdown, and to face in the direction of landing, after which he took off. About 15 minutes after departure, the winds increased, and the pilot looked for a place to land. He aborted his first landing attempt, and then located a grass field. He vented the envelope about 10 feet above the ground, and the balloon struck hard, during which time, the injuries occurred. The basket tipped over and was dragged for over 300 feet prior to coming to rest. A check of terminal forecasts for a nearby airport revealed higher winds were not forecast to be present during the time of the accident flight. However, they were forecast to begin about 2 1/2 hours later. The pilot's total flight experience was 43 hours, all in hot air balloons, including 31 hours in make and model.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Aerostar RX-8 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Jul 2003 | Aerostar RX-8 | Snowmass Villag, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 21 Jun 2003 | Aerostar RX 8 | Grove City, Ohio, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 19 Apr 2003 | Aerostar RX-8 | Bossier City, Louisiana, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 15 May 2001 | Aerostar RX-8 | Sterling, Colorado, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 19 Aug 2005 | Aerostar RX-8 | Denton, Texas, United States | Ronald L. Thompson | Serious injuries | - |
| 8 Oct 2005 | Aerostar RX-8 | Globe, Arizona, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 May 2003 | Piper PA-28-180 | Montgomery, New York, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 6 Jun 2003 | Mooney M20J | Montauk, New York, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 19 Jan 2003 | Boeing 757-251 | Flushing, New York, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 18 Jan 2003 | Piper PA-28-180 | Poughkeepsie, New York, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 23 Mar 2003 | Bell 47D | Princetown, New York, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 5 May 2003 | Piper PA-23-250 | Buffalo, New York, United States | - | No injuries | - |