Aerostar International INC RXS-8 accident near Yutan, Nebraska, March 28, 2022
On March 28, 2022, a 1993 Aerostar International INC RXS-8 (balloon), registered N9106Q, suffered minor damage in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Yutan, Nebraska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper brace during landing which resulted in a serious injury during the landing sequence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 28, 2022
- Place
- Yutan, Nebraska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerostar International INC RXS-8, built 1993 · all RXS-8s on the register
- Registration
- N9106Q · registry record · serial RXS8-3027
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he conducted a steep approach to a field with the intention of landing in between two obstacles. The balloon cleared the first obstacle with a descent rate of 250 ft per minute. The basket touched down on its short side, near the corner. The pilot was thrown forward and down as he pulled the red line; his foot caught on the basket wall then twisted. The balloon bounced once or twice before it came to rest on its side. The pilot reported that there were no anomalies with the balloon that would have precluded normal operations. The balloon sustained minor damage and the passengers were not injured; however, the pilot sustained a serious ankle injury.
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
What happened, in order
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Cabin safety event during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Physical › Physical characteristic › (general) › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Task environment › Physical workspace › Positioning/available space › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 45 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 33 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 30, 2020
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: none
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 303 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 29, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: Omaha NE at 11:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from KAHQ, 9 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KAHQ 272355Z AUTO 10006KT 10SM CLR 04/M12 A3019 RMK AO2 T00371124 10044 20012
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N9106Q the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN22LA159.