Aerostar RX-8 accident near Warsaw, Indiana, October 18, 1991
On October 18, 1991 at about 11:20 pm local time, a Aerostar RX-8 (balloon), registered N357OK, was involved in an accident near Warsaw, Indiana (Warsaw Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOT'S DELAYED INFLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION TO LAND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 18, 1991 · about 11:20 pm local time
- Place
- Warsaw, Indiana · Warsaw Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerostar RX-8
- Registration
- N357OK · no longer on the register · serial RX8-3049
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A COMMERCIAL PILOT BEGAN A BALLOON FLIGHT IN LATE AFTERNOON AND ATTEMPTED LANDING AT SUNSET. TWO ATTEMPTED LANDINGS WERE UNSUCCESSFUL WHEN THE CHASE CREW COULD NOT CATCH THE GROUND LINES IN THE WIND DRIFT. THE BALLOON REMAINED AIRBORNE AFTER DARK. THE PILOT STATED HE COULD NOT READ INSTRUMENTS NOR MAKE OUT OBSTACLES FOR LANDING FOR LACK OF AVAILABLE LIGHT. HE LATER FOUND A FIELD, MADE A RAPID DESCENT AND LANDED HARD.
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: 110 hours in all; 110 in this make and model; 85 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 105 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1991; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Waterford IN at 9:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 340° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,500 ft; scat at 800 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:51 pm from SBN, 34 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
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.