Aerostar RX8 N3647A
13 February 2016 · Petaluma, California, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 13 February 2016 at about 16:30 local time, a Aerostar RX8 registered N3647A, operated by Sowers William H, was involved in an accident near Petaluma, California, United States. 4 people were on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was slightly damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 16:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Petaluma, California, United States
- Coordinates
- 38.2908, -122.6242
- Aircraft
- Aerostar RX8
- Registration
- N3647A
- Category
- Balloon
- Year built
- 1990
- Operator
- Sowers William H
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Business
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Petaluma → Petaluma
- Aircraft damage
- Minor
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- WPR16LA070
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind during the landing approach, which resulted in the balloon’s basket impacting a metal fence and a passenger sustaining serious injuries.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The commercial pilot was making an approach to a field for landing at the end of the sightseeing flight. During the approach, he misjudged the wind, which pushed the balloon near a metal fence and resulted in the balloon's basket striking the fence. The pilot then landed the balloon safely on an adjacent road. The balloon sustained minor damage, and a child passenger, who was sitting down in the basket, sustained serious injuries.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Aerostar RX8 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Oct 2016 | Aerostar RX8 | Mount Ulla, North Carolina, United States | Up Up Away HOT Air Balloon Co | Serious injuries | - |
| 10 Oct 2015 | Aerostar RX8 | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 10 Oct 2012 | Aerostar RX8 | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 8 Oct 2009 | Aerostar RX8 | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 26 Nov 1995 | Aerostar RX8 | Rio Rancho, New Mexico, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Oct 2016 | Joe Salomone SUPER CUB SQ2 | Boca Reservoir, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 12 Dec 2016 | Cessna T210M | Mecca, California, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 25 Aug 2016 | Siai-Marchetti SF260 | Fullerton, California, United States | Air Combat, USA | Minor injuries | - |
| 15 Dec 2016 | Bombardier CL 600 2B19 | San Francisco, California, United States | Skywest Airlines Inc | Unknown | - |
| 24 Aug 2016 | Cessna 182 | Fallbrook, California, United States | Civil Air Patrol Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 8 Jul 2016 | Cessna 172 | San Diego, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |