# Accident 20000825036319A: Raven S55A, Lincoln, IL, August 25, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 25, 2000, 18:20 local time
- Place: Lincoln, IL
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.1502° N, 89.3594° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1502&lon=-89.3594&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1073R, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1073R-2001-03-01) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Raven S55A (registry code 7480402, https://openairdocs.org/model/raven-s55a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: RAVEN S55A
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI00LA270](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA270) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000825036319A

## Narrative

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

(-23)THE PILOT OF N1073R, A RAVEN HOT AIR BALLOON, LIFTED OFF FROM THE LOGAN COUNTY FAIRGROUND RACETRACK, LINCOLN, ILLINOIS, IN A FREE FLIGHT BALLOON EVENT WITH ADDITIONAL PARTICIPANTS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE BALLOONS. THE PILOT BECAME PREOCCUPIED WITH RADIO TRANSMISSION TO HIS GROUND CREW REGARDING THE WHEREABOUTS OF THE CHASE VEHICLE KEYS. THE PILOT LOCATED THE KEYS IN HIS PANTS POCKET AND THREW THE KEYS TO THE GROUND. THE BALLOON HAD SUBSEQUENTLY DESCENED TO A POINT WHERE CONTACT WITH POWER LINES, NEAR HSI TAKEOFF, WAS IMMINENT. THE BALLON SUSTAINED BURN DAMAGE AS THE POWER LINE ARCHED, AND THE BALLOON CONTINUED ITS DESCENT TO A POSITION WHERE THE OCCUPANT BASKET WAS NEAR THE GROUND. BOTH THE PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER JUMPED TO THE GROUND AND THE BALLOON DRIFTED INTO A SECOND SET OF POWER LINES BEFORE COMING TO A REST. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER RECEIVED NO INJURIES DURING THIS EVENT AND THE BALLOON ENVELOPE 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 CHI00LA270](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA270), Aug 25, 2000: Raven AS-55A (N1073R), Lincoln, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot failed to maintain clearance with the power lines. Factors associated with the accident were the pilot's attention was diverted and the power lines which the balloon contacted.

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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