Aerostar AX-9 - S-66A accident near Southhampton, New Jersey, May 24, 1992
On May 24, 1992 at about 12:15 pm local time, a Aerostar AX-9 - S-66A (balloon), registered N3604Y, was involved in an accident near Southhampton, New Jersey. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 5 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT USED AN EXCESSIVE DESCENT RATE DURING LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS AN UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 24, 1992 · about 12:15 pm local time
- Place
- Southhampton, New Jersey
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 5 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerostar AX-9 - S-66A AX-9 - S-6
- Registration
- N3604Y · no longer on the register · serial S66A-3034
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE ENCOUNTERED ADVERSE WIND CONDITIONS, CAUSING HIM TO ABORT LANDINGS AT TWO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. CONSEQUENTLY, ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE MADE A STEEP APPROACH INTO 'THE LAST AVAILABLE FIELD'. HE TOLD THE PASSENGERS TO EXPECT A HARD LANDING, HOLD ON TIGHT, AND USE THEIR LEGS AS SHOCK ABSORBERS. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE BALLOON WAS DESCENDING AT 500 FEET/MINUTE FIVE SECONDS BEFORE THE LANDING. DURING THE LANDING, ONE OF THE FIVE PASSENGERS FELL DOWN AND INJURED HER BACK.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 2,800 hours in all; 700 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 2,700 as pilot in command; 200 on instruments
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 197 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 20, 1992; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Moorestown NJ at 11:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 4 |
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.