Aerostar RAVEN S57-A accident near Imperial, Missouri, November 7, 1999
On November 7, 1999 at about 10:35 pm local time, a Aerostar RAVEN S57-A (balloon), registered N9130F, was involved in an accident near Imperial, Missouri. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the passenger's failure to follow instructions on how to properly brace for the landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 7, 1999 · about 10:35 pm local time
- Place
- Imperial, Missouri · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerostar RAVEN S57-A RAVEN S57-
- Registration
- N9130F · registry record · serial S57A-3152
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot briefed the passengers on the proper balloon landing procedures both prior to and during the flight. He reported that just prior to touchdown, he again stated 'Hold on and bend your knees.' He reported that during the normal, stand-up landing, the female passenger, age 83, either failed to or was unable to hold on. She lost her balance and began to sit on the floor of the basket. The male passenger, age 79, then let go of the basket in an attempt to assist her. The male passenger lost his footing, fell on top of the female, and the female passenger received a broken arm.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 108 hours in all; 105 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 82 as pilot in command; 6 on instruments
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 185 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 24, 1999; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: House Springs MO at 9:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 |
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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 CHI00LA023.