Aerostar RX-7 accident near Augusta, Kansas, April 16, 1994
On April 16, 1994 at about 2:45 pm local time, a Aerostar RX-7 (balloon), registered N6408F, was involved in an accident near Augusta, Kansas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE IMPROPER TOUCHDOWN PERFORMED BY THE BALLOON PILOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 16, 1994 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Augusta, Kansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerostar RX-7
- Registration
- N6408F · no longer on the register · serial RX7-3035
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT'S STATEMENT, AFTER PRACTICING THREE TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS, SHE PICKED UP A PASSENGER FOR THE CONTINUATION OF THE FLIGHT. THE PILOT INSTRUCTED THE PASSENGER TO BRACE HIMSELF AS SHE ATTEMPTED TO DO ANOTHER TOUCH AND GO LANDING. AFTER VENTING THE BALLOON TO DESCEND, THE PILOT DID A SHORT BURN AND THE BALLOON BOUNCED HARD WHILE 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: student
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 49 hours in all; 47 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 34 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 54 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 4, 1993; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 656 lb
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NON Belle Plaine KS at 12:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:48 pm from ICT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.