Aerostar S81A accident near Hartsel, Colorado, September 20, 2007
On September 20, 2007 at about 2:45 pm local time, a Aerostar S81A (balloon), registered N5294D, was involved in an accident near Hartsel, Colorado. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 4 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inability to maintain the proper descent rate. A factor contributing to the accident was the unfavorable wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 20, 2007 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Hartsel, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 4 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerostar S81A
- Registration
- N5294D · no longer on the register · serial S-81A-3011
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, the departure and en route portion of the flight were normal. While setting up for the landing, the pilot noted the wind was approximately 10 to 14 knots and "nothing was unusual." During the touchdown, "the initial impact was hard, followed by a small hop, and then a second impact." One passenger sustained serious injuries.
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: 1,025 hours in all; 519 in this make and model; 66 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: None
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine:; 0 hours total
- Operator: Colorado Rocky Ballooning, LLC
The flight
- Departed from: Hartsel CO
- Destination: Hartsel CO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 3 |
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.