# Accident 20020727016789A: Raven S77A, Fairburn, SD, July 27, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 27, 2002, 06:45 local time
- Place: Fairburn, SD
- Airport: Custer State Park Airport
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.7333° N, 103.6183° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7333&lon=-103.6183&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2867W, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2867W-2018-01-03) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aerostar International S-77A (registry code 7487077, https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-international-s-77a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: RAVEN S77A
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI02LA216](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA216) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020727016789A

## Narrative

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

(-23) JULY 27, 2002, PILOT SCOTT NASH NOTIFIED THE RAP FSDO OF AN AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT THAT OCCURRED AT 6:45 AM AT CUSTER STATE PARK. THE AIRCRAFT REPORTED WAS AN AEROSTAR S77A BALLOON WITH EIGHT PASSENGERS. THE AIRCRAFT MADE A HARD LANDING AND TWO PASSENGERS WERE INJURED, ONE MINOR AND ONE SERIOUS, WITH NO DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. MR. NASH STATED THAT THE WEATHER WAS CHECKED THROUGH NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, FLIGHT SERVICE STATION, LOCAL COMPUTER WEATHER AND A PIBALL AT THE LAUNCH SITE. THE WEATHER FORCEASTED WINDS TO BE CALM ON THE GROUND IN THE MORNING AND INCREASE TO AROUND 7 MPH BY 10:00 AM. MR. NASH WAS THE THIRD TO TAKE OFF OUT OF NINE BALLOONS THAT LAUNCED THAT MORNING. THE WINDS PICKED UP ABOVE 200 FEET AND WERE HIGHER THAN EXPECTED WHEN HE CLEARED THE TREE LINE FOR LANDING. INSPECTOR DAN WALSH PERFORMED THE ON SCENE INVESTIGATION. (.19) ON JULY 27, 2002, AT 0645 MOUNTAIN DAYLIGHT TIME, N2867W, AN AEROSTAR INTERNATIONAL BALLOON S-77A, EXPERIENCED A HARD LANDING IN CUSTER, SOUTH DAKOTA. THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. ONE PASSENGER WAS SERIOUSLY INJURIED, ONE PASSENGER RECEIVED A MINOR INJURY AND SIX PASSENGERS WERE NOT INJURED. THE                                                   BALLOON WAS NOT DAMAGED. THE TITLE 14 CFR PART 91 BUSINESS FLIGHT WAS OPERATING IN VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WITHOUT A FLIGHT PLAN. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED IN CUSTER, SOUTH DAKOTA, AT 0600.

## 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 CHI02LA216](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA216), Jul 27, 2002: Aerostar International S-77A (N2867W), Custer, SD, no damage. Probable cause: The pilot of the balloon did not maintain aircraft control. Factors contributing to the accident include the variable winds and the inadequate compensation for the wind conditions by the pilot in…

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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