Aerostar RX 8 N9051Y

Summary

On 29 November 2020 at about 00:00 local time, a Aerostar RX 8 registered N9051Y, operated by Scott J. Gneiting, was involved in an accident near St. George, Utah, United States. 2 people were on board. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 November 2020 at 00:00

Classification

Accident

Location

St. George, Utah, United States

Coordinates

37.0729, -113.5205

Aircraft

Aerostar RX 8

Registration

N9051Y

Category

Balloon

Year built

1992

Operator

Scott J. Gneiting

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR21LA155

Injuries not recorded.

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.