Aerostar S-77A N3605T
24 November 1990 · Phoenix, Arizona, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 24 November 1990 at about 15:30 local time, a Aerostar S-77A registered N3605T was involved in an accident near Phoenix, Arizona, United States. 7 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured, 5 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 15:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Phoenix, Arizona, United States
- Coordinates
- 33.6798, -112.0901
- Aircraft
- Aerostar S-77A
- Registration
- N3605T
- Category
- Balloon
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX91LA038
People
2 people were seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
Probable cause
STRENGTH DEGRADATION OF THE KEVLAR SUSPENSION CABLES, DUE TO PREVIOUS HEAT DAMAGE. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: FAILURE OF THE QUICK RELEASE LINE TO RELEASE, AND SUSCEPTIBILITY OF KEVLAR SUSPENSION CABLES TO HEAT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
WHILE BOARDING PSNL FOR A LAUNCH, THE BALLOON (BLN) WAS INFLATED & TETHERED TO A VEHICLE WITH A QUICK RELEASE LINE. WINDS AT THE TIME WERE ESTD TO BE ABT 7 KTS & SLIGHTLY GUSTY. DRG THE LAUNCH, THE PLT ADDED HEAT TO TAKEOFF & SIGNALED FOR A RELEASE, BUT THE QUICK RELEASE LINE FAILED TO RELEASE. THE BLN SETTLED TO THE GND & 'BOBBED' UP & DWN 2 TIMES. THE PLT RPRTD THAT AT THE HEIGHT OF A BOUNCE (ABT 6 TO 10 FT), ALL 28 OF THE ADVANCED FIBER TECHNOLOGY (AFT) KEVLAR SUSPENSION CABLES FAILED. THE BASKET FELL TO THE GND & THE ENVELOPE ROSE TO ABT 500 TO 700 FT, THOUGH THE RED LINE STAYED ATTACHED TO THE BASKET & OPENED THE DEFLATION PORT; 2 OF THE 7 OCCUPANTS RCVD SERIOUS INJURIES. AN EXAM REVEALED STRENGTH DEGRADATION OF THE KEVLAR CABLES DUE TO HEAT EXPOSURE. THE BLN HAD 240 HRS OF FLT TIME. STRENGTH LOSS WAS FND IN SOME AFT/KEVLAR CABLES OF OTHER BLNS. ON 11/28/90, AEROSTAR INTL SVC BULLETIN #129 WAS ISSUED TO RETROFIT ALL S-66A & S-77A BNS WITH STEEL CABLES.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Aerostar S-77A accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Jul 1995 | Aerostar S-77A | Davis, California, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 17 Feb 1996 | Aerostar S-77A | Tucson, Arizona, United States | HOT Air Expeditions, Inc. | Serious injuries | - |
| 14 Jul 2000 | Aerostar S-77A | River Falls, Wisconsin, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 6 Aug 2000 | Aerostar S-77A | Steamboat Spgs, Colorado, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 27 Jul 2002 | Aerostar S-77A | Custer, South Dakota, United States | Scott E, Nash | Serious injuries | - |
| 3 Jun 2003 | Aerostar S-77A | Cottage Grove, Minnesota, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Apr 1990 | Piper PA-28-161 | Chandler, Arizona, United States | Chandler Air Service | No injuries | - |
| 26 Apr 1990 | Cessna 120 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | James R. Ohlin | No injuries | - |
| 7 Jun 1990 | Bellanca 8KCAB | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | Kindel, Charles E. | Fatal | 1 |
| 24 Oct 1990 | Beechcraft F33A | Mobile, Arizona, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 30 Apr 1990 | Cessna 182L | Bullhead City, Arizona, United States | Unregistered | No injuries | - |
| 1 May 1990 | Piper PA30 | Sedona, Arizona, United States | Haaf, TOM | No injuries | - |