Aerostar AX-9 N28267
22 August 1992 · Hopkinton, Massachusetts, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 22 August 1992 at about 12:48 local time, a Aerostar AX-9 registered N28267, operated by Mario Distefano, was involved in an accident near Hopkinton, Massachusetts, United States. 8 people were on board and nobody was injured. 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 12:48
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Hopkinton, Massachusetts, United States
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Aerostar AX-9
- Registration
- N28267
- Category
- Balloon
- Operator
- Mario Distefano
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial Observation
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Westboro → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- NYC92LA177
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S INFLIGHT PLANNING WHICH RESULTED IN A FORCED LANDING IN UNSUITABLE TERRAIN DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
DUE TO THE LACK OF A SUITABLE LANDING AREA, THE PILOT CONTINUED FLIGHT UNTIL HE EXPERIENCED FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE BALLOON SETTLED INTO TREES WHERE TWO PASSENGERS WERE OFFLOADED. THE PILOT SAID HE THOUGHT WITH TWO PASSENGER OUT OF THE BASKET, THERE WOULD BE ENOUGH RESIDUAL LIFT TO LIFT THE BALLOON CLEAR OF THE TREES; HOWEVER, THE BALLOON ONLY MOVED ABOUT 20 FEET AND SETTLED BACK INTO THE TREES. WHILE SETTLING TO THE GROUND SEVERAL SIDE PANELS OF THE BALLOON WERE RIPPED.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Aerostar AX-9 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 May 1992 | Aerostar AX-9-S-66A | Southhampton, New Jersey, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 22 Apr 1993 | Aerostar AX-9 | Calistoga, California, United States | Michael Carnevale | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Aug 1992 | Piper PA-34-200T | Bedford, Massachusetts, United States | Edward Walter | No injuries | - |
| 22 Aug 1992 | Piper PA-32-260 | Newburyport, Massachusetts, United States | Alfred L. Moseley | Minor injuries | - |
| 13 Aug 1992 | Beechcraft 76 | Nantucket, Massachusetts, United States | John F. Mannix | Serious injuries | - |
| 19 Oct 1992 | Beechcraft 55 | Leicester, Massachusetts, United States | Robert L. Powell | Fatal | 2 |
| 15 Oct 1992 | Piper PA-38-112 | Newburyport, Massachusetts, United States | Beverly Flight Center, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 17 Oct 1992 | Cessna C-152 | Petersham, Massachusetts, United States | Amity Aircraft Flight School | No injuries | - |