Aerostar S-60A N3589J
11 December 1990 · Columbus, Ohio, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 11 December 1990 at about 13:15 local time, a Aerostar S-60A registered N3589J, operated by Icchc Corporation, was involved in an accident near Columbus, Ohio, United States. 4 people were on board and 4 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 13:15
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Columbus, Ohio, United States
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Aerostar S-60A
- Registration
- N3589J
- Category
- Balloon
- Operator
- Icchc Corporation
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- NYC91FA046
People
4 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT. THE UNFAVORABLE WIND AND TEMPERATURE INVERSION WERE RELATED FACTORS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE BALLOON DEPARTED FROM A FIELD ABOUT 4 MI SOUTHEAST OF THE SUBSEQUENT ACCIDENT SITE. WITNESSES SAW THE BALLOON DRIFTING TO THE NORTHWEST AT LOW ALTITUDE. SEVERAL WITNESSES SAID THAT AS THE BALLOON NEARED A 1029 FT TALL TV ANTENNA, IT BEGAN TO ASCEND RAPIDLY & ITS HORIZONTAL SPEED INCREASED. HOWEVER, THE BALLOONS ENVELOPE CONTACTED THE TOP OF THE ANTENA. BOTH THE ENVELOPE & GONDOLA FELL INTO A WOODED AREA. A WEATHER STUDY SHOWED THAT THERE WAS A TEMPERATURE INVERSION & THAT THE WIND VELOCITY INCREASED FROM ABOUT 4 KTS AT THE SURFACE TO ABOUT 13 KTS AT 3000 FT MSL.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Aerostar S-60A accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Apr 1988 | Aerostar S-60A | Orlando, Florida, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 9 Jun 1996 | Aerostar S-60A | San Angelo, Texas, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 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 May 1999 | Aerostar S-60A | Clarkdale, Arizona, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 4 Oct 2004 | Aerostar S-60A | Austin, Texas, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Jul 1990 | Bellanca 17-31A | Wilmington, Ohio, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 21 May 1990 | Rockwell 114 | Willoughby Hill, Ohio, United States | Finder's Diversified, Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 18 Jan 1990 | Learjet 23 | Ansonia, Ohio, United States | Aero Smith Leasing | Fatal | 2 |
| 2 Jun 1990 | Piper PA28-140 | Wadsworth, Ohio, United States | Ralph D. Brown | Fatal | 2 |
| 18 Jul 1990 | Cessna 150M | New Knoxville, Ohio, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 26 Jul 1990 | Cessna C-152A | Yellowsprings, Ohio, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |