Aerostar RX-8 accident near Ithaca, New York, October 25, 2003
On October 25, 2003 at about 12:40 pm local time, a Aerostar RX-8 (balloon), registered N3597H, suffered minor damage in an accident near Ithaca, New York. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's excessive descent rate during the execution of a high wind landing. A factor was the high winds.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 25, 2003 · about 12:40 pm local time
- Place
- Ithaca, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerostar RX-8
- Registration
- N3597H · no longer on the register · serial RX8-3007
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The hot air balloon pilot reported that he checked the weather the night before, and again on the morning of the flight. At the takeoff site, the pilot released three PIBALS over a period 45 minutes during which time, the winds lessened to the point that the pilot felt he could safely make the flight. The pilot reported that he briefed the passengers to bend their knees at touchdown, and to face in the direction of landing, after which he took off. About 15 minutes after departure, the winds increased, and the pilot looked for a place to land. He aborted his first landing attempt, and then located a grass field. He vented the envelope about 10 feet above the ground, and the balloon struck hard, during which time, the injuries occurred. The basket tipped over and was dragged for over 300 feet prior to coming to rest. A check of terminal forecasts for a nearby airport revealed higher winds were not forecast to be present during the time of the accident flight. However, they were forecast to begin about 2 1/2 hours later. The pilot's total flight experience was 43 hours, all in hot air balloons, including 31 hours in make and model.
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: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 43 hours in all; 31 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 13 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 22, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 176.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 8, 2002; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,640 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Ithaca NY at 12:07 pm
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 12:50 pm from ITH, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 1 |
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.