Aerostar RX-7 accident near Crestwood, Kentucky, July 9, 1987
On July 9, 1987 at about 12:42 pm local time, a Aerostar RX-7 (balloon), registered N2897H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Crestwood, Kentucky. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 9, 1987 · about 12:42 pm local time
- Place
- Crestwood, Kentucky · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerostar RX-7
- Registration
- N2897H · no longer on the register · serial RX7-3069
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE BALLOON CONTACTED POWER LINES AS IT WAS BEGINNING TO CLIMB AFTER AN ABORTED LDG ATTEMPT. ELECTRICAL ARCING IGNITED THE PROPANE FUEL SUPPLY ON BOARD. THE SOLE-OCCUPANT STUDENT PLT JUMPED FROM THE BURNING BALLOON AND FELL APPROX 40 FT ONTO A FENCE. THE STUDENT PLT LATER REPORTED THAT SHE DIDN'T SEE THE POWER LINE UNTIL JUST BEFORE CONTACT. THE STUDENT PLT'S INSTRUCTOR WAS ON THE GROUND NEARBY AT THE TIME. HE REPORTED THAT HE DIDN'T WARN THE STUDENT OF THE WIRES BECAUSE HE THOUGHT SHE SAW THEM AND WAS GOING TO CLEAR THEM. THIS WAS THE STUDENT'S SECOND SUPERVISED SOLO FLT. SHE HAD APPROX 1 HR TOTAL PIC TIME.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 14 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 40 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,480 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Unknown UNK (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Louisville KY at 11:30 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 4 knots
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.