Aerostar S-77A accident near River Falls, Wisconsin, July 14, 2000
On July 14, 2000 at about 1:51 am local time, a Aerostar S-77A (balloon), registered N5075H, was involved in an accident near River Falls, Wisconsin. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured; 6 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the unfavorable wind condition for landing and control of the balloon during landing not possible by the pilot.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 2000 · about 1:51 am local time
- Place
- River Falls, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured; 6 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerostar S-77A
- Registration
- N5075H · registry record
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Three of the nine occupants of the hot air balloon received serious injuries during landing. The pilot said that, during the flight he experienced wind velocities higher than had been reported. He said that he advised and briefed the passengers of the possibility of a high wind landing. He said that during the approach to landing, the wind was approximately 6 to 8 miles per hour and that, just before touchdown, the wind increased to 12 to 15 miles per hour. Passengers reported that the pilot advised them of the possibility of a hard landing. They reported that the pilot briefed them on how to prepare for the landing. One of the witnesses reported that the balloon impacted the ground twice and came to rest on its side. A weather report for a station located about 20 miles west-northwest of the accident site was reporting winds from 320 degrees magnetic at 10 nautical miles per hour.
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: 337 hours in all; 73 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 4, 2000; 46 hours since
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Stillwater MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from STP, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 | 5 |
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.