Aerostar S-55A accident near Monroe, Wisconsin, June 21, 2003
On June 21, 2003 at about 1:40 am local time, a Aerostar S-55A (balloon), registered N5253Y, was involved in an accident near Monroe, Wisconsin. It was an air show or air race flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the transmission wires during landing and his decision to jump from the balloon. A factor to the accident was the power transmission lines.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 21, 2003 · about 1:40 am local time
- Place
- Monroe, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerostar S-55A
- Registration
- N5253Y · no longer on the register · serial S55A-3082
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Air show or air race flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot received serious injuries when he exited his balloon while attempting to land. The pilot stated that as he made his approach he saw he was below power transmission lines. According to the pilot he made an attempt to go over the lines but was unable to, at which time the pilot decided to exit the balloon. The pilot reported that he jumped from the basket at approximately 8 to 10 feet above the ground. The pilot stated that upon landing he broke his ankle.
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, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 441 hours in all; 315 in this make and model
- Last flight review: November 10, 2001
- Medical certificate: None
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 207 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 12, 2003; 4 hours since
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: Monroe WI
- Destination: Monroe WI
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 1:34 am from KEFT, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.