# Accident 19970706019979A: Raven S60A, Clyde, OH, July 6, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 6, 1997, 07:30 local time
- Place: Clyde, OH
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.2994° N, 82.9708° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2994&lon=-82.9708&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3590H, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3590H-2015-04-24) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aerostar International S-60A (registry code 7486060, https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-international-s-60a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: RAVEN S60A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 852 total, 526 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC97LA137](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA137) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970706019979A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.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.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB NYC97LA137](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA137), Jul 6, 1997: Aerostar-Raven S-60-A (N3590H), Clyde, OH, no damage. Probable cause: An 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.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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