Aerostar S-77A accident near Steamboat Spgs, Colorado, August 6, 2000
On August 6, 2000 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Aerostar S-77A (balloon), registered N5164R, was involved in an accident near Steamboat Spgs, Colorado. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 5 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a bush during the balloon landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 6, 2000 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Steamboat Spgs, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 5 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerostar S-77A
- Registration
- N5164R · no longer on the register · serial S77A-3028
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he instructed passengers on landing procedures and techniques. He said that during the landing sequence, the balloon came down short of the intended spot and impacted a small bush. The 'basket tipped to an angle of 45 degrees, then righted itself.' During this unexpected degree of tipping, one of four passengers broke her ankle. The pilot said the weather was not a factor.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 2,970 hours in all; 51 in this make and model; 48 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 2,970 as pilot in command; 200 on instruments
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 131 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 7, 2000; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 1:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:15 pm from HDN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 4 |
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.