Aerostar RX7 accident near Durango, Colorado, February 2, 1991
On February 2, 1991 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Aerostar RX7 (balloon), registered N35773, was substantially damaged in an accident near Durango, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN OBSTACLE CLEARANCE. FACTORS WERE: THE UNFAVORABLE WINDS AND THE HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS IN THE FLIGHT PATH.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 2, 1991 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Durango, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerostar RX7
- Registration
- N35773 · registry record · serial RX7-3208
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER LIFTING THE BALLOON OUT OF THE CANYON, THE PILOT BEGAN LOOKING FOR A LANDING SITE IN THE FLATS ABOVE THE CANYON RIM. THE BALLOON BEGAN TO DESCEND AND DESPITE A LONG BURN, THE DESCENT CONTINUED. IN AN EFFORT TO MISS THE POWER LINES, THE PILOT RIPPED OUT THE TOP BUT WAS UNABLE TO AVOID THE COLLISION. THE PILOT CONCLUDED THAT HE ENCOUNTERED A ROTOR GENERATED BY WINDS IN THE CANYON FORCING THE BALLOON TO THE GROUND. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE WIRES HAD BEEN VISIBLE FOR AN 'EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.'
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: 226 hours in all; 226 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 214 as pilot in command; 2 on instruments
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,480 lb
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Durango CO at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.