# Accident 19991231037629A: Raven S49A, Flandreau, SD, December 31, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 31, 1999, 09:45 local time
- Place: Flandreau, SD
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Forced Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.0403° N, 96.5890° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0403&lon=-96.5890&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6316U, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6316U-2000-09-14) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aerostar International RAVEN S49A (registry code 7484049, https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-international-raven-s49a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: RAVEN S49A
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI00LA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA054) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991231037629A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON DECEMBER 31, 1999, AN AEROSTAR INTERNATIONAL, RAVEN S49A BALLOON, N6316U, OPERATED BY A PRIVATE PILOT, WAS DESTROYED WHEN IT SUSTAINED A HARD LANDING AND A FIRE BROKE OUT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.  THE PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS BEING CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91.  NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS ON FILE.  THE PILOT AND PASSENGER ON BOARD SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES.  THE BALLOON WAS OPERATING FROM A FIELD 6 MILES SOUTH OF FLANDREAU, SOUTH DAKOTA. IN HER STATEMENT TO THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, THE PILOT SAID THAT WHILE SHE WAS AIRBORNE, THE WINDS PICKED UP.  SHE SAID THAT SHE MADE A COUPLE OF LANDING ATTEMPTS BEFORE THE LANDING ATTEMPT WHICH RESULTED IN THE HARD LANDING WAS MADE.  DURING THE HARD LANDING, THE BALLOON'S BURNER CAME LOOSE, CATCHING THE BASKET ON FIRE.  THE FIRE PERPETUATED AS THE BALLOON'S BASKET WAS BEING DRAGGED.  THE PILOT AND THE PASSENGER EGRESSED THE BASKET.  THE BALLOON TRAVELED ANOTHER HALF-MILE BEFORE FINALLY COMING TO REST.  THE BALLOON'S BASKET AND BOTTOM 1/3 OF THE ENVELOPE WERE DESTROYED BY FIRE.                                        (-23)^PRIVACY DATA O^ PILOT ON N6316U, WAS COMING IN TO LAND, ENCOUNTERED A HIGH WIND GUST AND AMDE A HARD LANDING. THE BURNER CAME LOOSE FROM ITS MOUNTING BRACKET, PILOT COULD NOT TURN OFF THE BURNER ASSEMBLY.  PILOT AND PASSENGER ESCAPED WITH MINOR INJURIES AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED.

## 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 CHI00LA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA054), Dec 31, 1999: Aerostar S49A (N6316U), Flandreau, SD, destroyed. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, and the burner becoming disconnected from the balloon's frame. A contributing factor was the high wind condition.

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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