Aerostar International Inc. S81A accident near Custer, South Dakota, July 17, 2007
On July 17, 2007 at about 1:15 pm local time, a Aerostar International Inc. S81A (balloon), registered N5069B, was involved in an accident near Custer, South Dakota. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 12 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The high wind during landing. Contributing to the accident was the encounter with adverse weather during the flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 17, 2007 · about 1:15 pm local time
- Place
- Custer, South Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 12 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerostar International Inc. S81A
- Registration
- N5069B · registry record · serial S81A-3016
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that at the time of the balloon launch, the winds were calm, but during landing the winds were "a little stronger than forecast but nothing unusual for the Hills..." He stated that he briefed the passengers for a windy landing, and the balloon landed "...going to 10-12 mph." The basket then tipped over on its side and slid 20 feet across grass and a "few" rocks. The passenger reportedly received a broken ankle during landing.
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: 1,979 hours in all
- Last flight review: July 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: None
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 148.1 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: Custer SD at 12:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 12:52 pm from RAP
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 11 |
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.