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19970706019979A

Accident
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FAA accident report · Raven S-60A · Clyde, OH · July 6, 1997

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
July 6, 1997 · 07:30 local
Place
Clyde, OH
Phase of flight
Level Off Touchdown
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Aircraft
N3590H
NTSB investigation
NTSBNYC97LA137
Reported as
Raven S60A
People aboard
2
Fatal injuries
0
Pilot’s flight hours
852 total526 in this make and model11 in the last 90 days
N3590HRegistration cancelled Apr 24, 2015 · Aerostar International S-60AS/N S60A-3093 · Built 1988Airframe modelAerostar International S-60AEngine modelNONENone

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(.4)The balloon overflew the intended point of landing and a second field site was chosen for a full stop landing. After the balloon basket skimmed the treetops at the approach end of the field, the pilot expedited the landing due to high-tension power lines at the downwind end of the field. The pilot had briefed the two passengers to stand on one leg, with the other leg braced against the basket wall facing the direction of travel. Both passengers described the descent as 'straight down', followed by a hard landing. Guidance provided in an FAA approved flight manual directs passengers not to brace against the basket wall and to stand with knees slightly bent to absorb shock. It further stated that passengers should be briefed to face away from the direction of travel. (-23) the pilot stated that the balloon was drifting towards a high tension line and he decided to immediately land in a hayfield that was directly under his flight path. The pilot executed a positive landing and the balloon struck the ground firmly. One (1) passenger was injured on the landing. No damage to ballon or gondola.

As the FAA filed it

(.4)THE BALLOON OVERFLEW THE INTENDED POINT OF LANDING AND A SECOND FIELD SITE WAS CHOSEN FOR A FULL STOP LANDING. AFTER THE BALLOON BASKET SKIMMED THE TREETOPS AT THE APPROACH END OF THE FIELD, THE PILOT EXPEDITED THE LANDING DUE TO HIGH-TENSION POWER LINES AT THE DOWNWIND END OF THE FIELD. THE PILOT HAD BRIEFED THE TWO PASSENGERS TO STAND ON ONE LEG, WITH THE OTHER LEG BRACED AGAINST THE BASKET WALL FACING THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL. BOTH PASSENGERS DESCRIBED THE DESCENT AS 'STRAIGHT DOWN', FOLLOWED BY A HARD LANDING. GUIDANCE PROVIDED IN AN FAA APPROVED FLIGHT MANUAL DIRECTS PASSENGERS NOT TO BRACE AGAINST THE BASKET WALL AND TO STAND WITH KNEES SLIGHTLY BENT TO ABSORB SHOCK. IT FURTHER STATED THAT PASSENGERS SHOULD BE BRIEFED TO FACE AWAY FROM THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL. (-23) THE PILOT STATED THAT THE BALLOON WAS DRIFTING TOWARDS A HIGH TENSION LINE AND HE DECIDED TO IMMEDIATELY LAND IN A HAYFIELD THAT WAS DIRECTLY UNDER HIS FLIGHT PATH. THE PILOT EXECUTED A POSITIVE LANDING AND THE BALLOON STRUCK THE GROUND FIRMLY. ONE (1) PASSENGER WAS INJURED ON THE LANDING. NO DAMAGE TO BALLON OR GONDOLA.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB NYC97LA137Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportClyde, OHAn abrupt touchdown to avoid power lines which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to properly brief the passengers for the landing.Jul 6, 1997 · No damage