Aerostar S-77A accident near Cottage Grove, Minnesota, June 3, 2003
On June 3, 2003 at about 1:07 am local time, a Aerostar S-77A (balloon), registered N52461, was involved in an accident near Cottage Grove, Minnesota. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 8 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The inadequate touchdown by the pilot.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 3, 2003 · about 1:07 am local time
- Place
- Cottage Grove, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 8 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerostar S-77A
- Registration
- N52461 · registry record · serial 3031
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A passenger was seriously injured during a hard landing in a balloon ride . The pilot released a line to his chase crew, who were unsuccessful in slowing the balloon down. The pilot then climbed to clear obstacles and deployed the parachute top vent to descend onto a baseball field. The pilot deployed the aero chute vent during flare. The balloon bounced three to four times before stopping.
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
- Last flight review: December 28, 2002
- Medical certificate: None
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 150 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2003; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,700 lb
- Seats: 13
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine:; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Lakeland MN
- Destination: Cottage Grove MN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 7 |
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.