Aerostar RX-8 N70107
30 December 1995 · Lucerne Valley, California, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 30 December 1995 at about 16:45 local time, a Aerostar RX-8 registered N70107 was involved in an accident near Lucerne Valley, California, United States. 3 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 16:45
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Lucerne Valley, California, United States
- Coordinates
- 34.5191, -116.8809
- Aircraft
- Aerostar RX-8
- Registration
- N70107
- Category
- Balloon
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Apple Valley → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX96LA089
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Probable cause
the balloon's encounter with unexpected high wind conditions, and the pilot's inability to stop the balloon prior to contacting ground obstructions.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot reported that the first flight of the morning was completed successfully, and new passengers were boarded for the accident flight. As the balloon achieved 3,000 feet agl during the flight, the ground crew radioed the pilot that the surface winds were rapidly increasing and were now at 20 knots. The pilot initiated a high wind landing in a field by actuating the top vent at 18 feet agl. The balloon touched down firmly and was dragged by the winds about 1,500 feet along the ground until it was stopped by a chain link fence and metal shed.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Aerostar RX-8 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Oct 1995 | Aerostar RX 8 | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 4 Jul 1996 | Aerostar RX-8 | Canton, Mississippi, United States | John M. Delancey | Serious injuries | - |
| 8 Oct 1996 | Aerostar RX 8 | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 22 Dec 1996 | Aerostar RX-8 | Rio Rancho, New Mexico, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 18 Oct 1991 | Aerostar RX-8 | Warsaw, Indiana, United States | Henry J. & Marcille Cripe | Serious injuries | - |
| 15 May 2001 | Aerostar RX-8 | Sterling, Colorado, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Jun 1995 | Ed Bergreen KIS | San Leandro, California, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 23 Jun 1995 | Spreuer COZY | Oceanside, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 26 Jun 1995 | Cessna 182P | Susanville, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 28 Jun 1995 | Cessna 150M | Turlock, California, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 24 Jun 1995 | Piper PA-28-181 | Palm Springs, California, United States | Alan L. Kaplan | No injuries | - |
| 24 Jun 1995 | Piper PA-34-200 | Avalon, California, United States | Aero Club | No injuries | - |