Aerostar S81A accident near Strasburg, Pennsylvania, May 23, 1998
On May 23, 1998 at about 9:50 am local time, a Aerostar S81A (balloon), registered N7165E, was involved in an accident near Strasburg, Pennsylvania (Smoketown airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 6 people had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A fire of undetermined origin.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 23, 1998 · about 9:50 am local time
- Place
- Strasburg, Pennsylvania · Smoketown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 6 people had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerostar S81A
- Registration
- N7165E · no longer on the register · serial S81A-3004
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The balloon experienced a fire while preparing for takeoff. The pilot stated that after the accident, he shut off the balloon's propane tanks, and tried tightening all the propane fittings to prevent another fire. Examination of the balloon's fuel delivery and storage systems did not reveal the fire's fuel source.
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, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 950 hours in all; 17 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 930 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 90 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 22, 1997; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 37PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 am from LNS, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 5 | 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.