Aerostar S-60A N70466

Summary

On 4 October 2004 at about 00:06 local time, a Aerostar S-60A registered N70466 was involved in an accident near Austin, Texas, United States. 3 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 October 2004 at 00:06

Classification

Accident

Location

Austin, Texas, United States

Coordinates

30.3167, -97.7669

Aircraft

Aerostar S-60A

Registration

N70466

Category

Balloon

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Round Rock → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW05CA001

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot's excessive descent rate during the execution of a high wind landing, resulting in a hard landing. A factor was the high wind.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The 2,315-hour balloon pilot reported that after receiving a detailed weather briefing from the local Flight Service Station, he departed with two passengers for a local flight. Approximately one hour into the flight, unforecasted wind began to carry the balloon at a high speed. After several attempts to land, the pilot located an open field. Upon landing, the basket impacted the ground at a high speed, and the pilot and one passenger fell out. The balloon continued to drag the basket across the ground with the other passenger onboard until it collided with a chain link fence, crossed over a road, and was finally lodged in some power lines and electrical poles where it came to rest.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.