Aerostar AX-9 accident near Hopkinton, Massachusetts, August 22, 1992
On August 22, 1992 at about 12:48 pm local time, a Aerostar AX-9 (balloon), registered N28267, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hopkinton, Massachusetts. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 8 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INFLIGHT PLANNING WHICH RESULTED IN A FORCED LANDING IN UNSUITABLE TERRAIN DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 22, 1992 · about 12:48 pm local time
- Place
- Hopkinton, Massachusetts
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 8 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerostar AX-9
- Registration
- N28267 · no longer on the register · serial S66A-3001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DUE TO THE LACK OF A SUITABLE LANDING AREA, THE PILOT CONTINUED FLIGHT UNTIL HE EXPERIENCED FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE BALLOON SETTLED INTO TREES WHERE TWO PASSENGERS WERE OFFLOADED. THE PILOT SAID HE THOUGHT WITH TWO PASSENGER OUT OF THE BASKET, THERE WOULD BE ENOUGH RESIDUAL LIFT TO LIFT THE BALLOON CLEAR OF THE TREES; HOWEVER, THE BALLOON ONLY MOVED ABOUT 20 FEET AND SETTLED BACK INTO THE TREES. WHILE SETTLING TO THE GROUND SEVERAL SIDE PANELS OF THE BALLOON WERE RIPPED.
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: 602 hours in all; 270 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days; 602 as pilot in command; 59 on instruments
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 1900
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Westboro MA at 10:45 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 7 |
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.