Aerostar RX-8 and Aerostar S-71A mid-air collision near Snowmass Villag, Colorado, July 16, 2003
On July 16, 2003 at about 12:30 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Aerostar RX-8 (N35965) and Aerostar S-71A (N5047C), were involved in a mid-air collision near Snowmass Villag, Colorado. No one was hurt; 10 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the failure of the pilot of balloon #2 to maintain clearance from balloon #1 while overtaking him.
the failure of the pilot of balloon #2 to maintain clearance from balloon #1 while overtaking him.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 16, 2003 · about 12:30 pm local time
- Place
- Snowmass Villag, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 10 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Aerostar RX-8
- Registration
- N35965 · no longer on the register · serial RX8-3004
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Aerostar S-71A
- Registration
- N5047C · no longer on the register · serial S71A-3022
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Aerostar RX-8 final · quoted from the NTSB record
Balloon #1 N35965 departed approximately 1 to 2 minutes after balloon #2 N5047C departed. Balloon #2 had proceeded slightly west of a creek bed. Approximately 1 mile down the creek bed, #1 passed #2. Two miles further down the creek bed, #2 had obtained a faster ground speed and began to close in on balloon #1. The pilot of balloon #2 initiated an accent to climb up and over balloon #1. The basket of balloon #2 impacted the envelope of balloon #1 approximately 20 feet down from the top of the balloon causing substantial damage to the envelope.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Aerostar S-71A final · quoted from the NTSB record
Balloon #1 N35965 departed approximately 1 to 2 minutes after balloon #2 N5047C departed. Balloon #2 had proceeded slightly west of a creek bed. Approximately 1 mile down the creek bed, #1 passed #2. Two miles further down the creek bed, #2 had obtained a faster ground speed and began to close in on balloon #1. The pilot of balloon #2 initiated an accent to climb up and over balloon #1. The basket of balloon #2 impacted the envelope of balloon #1 approximately 20 feet down from the top of the balloon causing substantial damage to the envelope.
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 for the Aerostar RX-8 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 880 hours in all; 288 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days; 797 as pilot in command; 8 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 23, 2003
- Medical certificate: None
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 451.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 6, 2003; 5.7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine:; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Snowmass Villag CO at 12:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.45 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from ASE, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
The factual record for the Aerostar S-71A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 177 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 161 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 1, 2002
- Medical certificate: None
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 27, 2003
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Snowmass Villag CO at 12:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 6 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N35965 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.