# Accident 19990509022049A: Raven S60A, Clarkdale, AZ, May 9, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 9, 1999, 07:00 local time
- Place: Clarkdale, AZ
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.7895° N, 112.0990° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7895&lon=-112.0990&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3592Z, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3592Z-2011-07-18) (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: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 9,400 total, 305 in this make and model, 22 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX99LA178](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA178) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990509022049A

## Narrative

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

ON MAY 9, 1999, ABOUT 0700 HOURS MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME, AN AEROSTAR INTERNATIONAL, INC., S-60A BALLOON, N3592Z, OPERATED BY THE AEROZONA BALLOON COMPANY, SEDONA, ARIZONA, MADE A HIGH WIND LANDING NEAR CLARKDALE, ARIZONA. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT AND THREE PASSENGERS WERE NOT INJURED; THE FOURTH PASSENGER WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE 14 CFR PART 91 AERIAL SIGHTSEEING PASSENGER FLIGHT.  THE BALLOON WAS NOT DAMAGED.  THE PLANNED LOCAL AREA REVENUE FLIGHT COMMENCED FROM BLACK CANYON, ARIZONA, ABOUT 0615. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE PERFORMED A HIGH WIND LANDING IN ABOUT A 9 MPH WIND.  THE PILOT STATED THAT HE RIPPED OPEN THE ENVELOPE'S TOP AFTER TOUCHDOWN.  THE BASKET WAS DRAGGED ABOUT 10 FEET BEFORE COMING TO REST, AND DURING THIS TIME A BUSH LIMB PENETRATED THE BASKET RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURIES TO THE PASSENGER. (.4) THE PILOT AND FOUR FARE-PAYING PASSENGERS DEPARTED FOR A LOCAL SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT.  THE FLIGHT WAS UNEVENTFUL.  THE PASSENGERS RECEIVED SAFETY BRIEFINGS AND WORE HELMETS DURING THE HIGH WIND LANDING, IN AN 8-KNOT WIND.  AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE PILOT RIPPED OUT THE BALLOON'S TOP, BUT THE BASKET WAS D RAGGED ABOUT 10 FEET BEFORE COMING TO REST IN TERRAIN WHICH HAD VEGETATION OVER 1/2 OF ITS SURFACE. DURING THE SLIDE, A TREE BRANCH PENETRATED THE BASKET THROUGH A PASSENGER'S STEP HOLE.  THE BRANCH CONTACTED A PASSENGER'S LEG, WHICH RESULTED IN A SERIOUS INJURY.

## 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 LAX99LA178](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA178), May 9, 1999: Aerostar S-60A (N3592Z), Clarkdale, AZ, no damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain during a high wind condition. Contributing factors were the high winds and the tree.

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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