Aerostar S-77A accident near Phoenix, Arizona, November 24, 1990
On November 24, 1990 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Aerostar S-77A (balloon), registered N3605T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Phoenix, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 5 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
STRENGTH DEGRADATION OF THE KEVLAR SUSPENSION CABLES, DUE TO PREVIOUS HEAT DAMAGE. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: FAILURE OF THE QUICK RELEASE LINE TO RELEASE, AND SUSCEPTIBILITY OF KEVLAR SUSPENSION CABLES TO HEAT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 24, 1990 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Phoenix, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 5 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerostar S-77A
- Registration
- N3605T · no longer on the register · serial S77A-3011
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE BOARDING PSNL FOR A LAUNCH, THE BALLOON (BLN) WAS INFLATED & TETHERED TO A VEHICLE WITH A QUICK RELEASE LINE. WINDS AT THE TIME WERE ESTD TO BE ABT 7 KTS & SLIGHTLY GUSTY. DRG THE LAUNCH, THE PLT ADDED HEAT TO TAKEOFF & SIGNALED FOR A RELEASE, BUT THE QUICK RELEASE LINE FAILED TO RELEASE. THE BLN SETTLED TO THE GND & 'BOBBED' UP & DWN 2 TIMES. THE PLT RPRTD THAT AT THE HEIGHT OF A BOUNCE (ABT 6 TO 10 FT), ALL 28 OF THE ADVANCED FIBER TECHNOLOGY (AFT) KEVLAR SUSPENSION CABLES FAILED. THE BASKET FELL TO THE GND & THE ENVELOPE ROSE TO ABT 500 TO 700 FT, THOUGH THE RED LINE STAYED ATTACHED TO THE BASKET & OPENED THE DEFLATION PORT; 2 OF THE 7 OCCUPANTS RCVD SERIOUS INJURIES. AN EXAM REVEALED STRENGTH DEGRADATION OF THE KEVLAR CABLES DUE TO HEAT EXPOSURE. THE BLN HAD 240 HRS OF FLT TIME. STRENGTH LOSS WAS FND IN SOME AFT/KEVLAR CABLES OF OTHER BLNS. ON 11/28/90, AEROSTAR INTL SVC BULLETIN #129 WAS ISSUED TO RETROFIT ALL S-66A & S-77A BNS WITH STEEL CABLES.
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: 2,132 hours in all; 1,100 in this make and model; 71 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days; 2,091 as pilot in command; 210 on instruments
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 7 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.
Other NTSB records under N3605T 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.