# Accident 20050527009669A: Raven S57A, Sparta, MO, May 27, 2005

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 27, 2005, 19:48 local time
- Place: Sparta, MO
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.0000° N, 93.0833° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0000&lon=-93.0833&mi=10
- Aircraft: N71072, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N71072) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aerostar International S-57A (registry code 7485001, https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-international-s-57a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: RAVEN S57A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 130 total, 130 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI05CA133](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI05CA133) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050527009669A

## Narrative

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

(-23) AS THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND NEAR A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE, A SUDDEN GUST OF WIND CAME UP AND BEGAN BLOWING THE BALLOON TOWARD POWER LINES. TO AVOID THE POWER LINES HE OPENED THE BURNER TO MAXIMUM UNTIL HE WAS ABOVE THE WIRES. ONCE ABOVE THEM HE DUMPED AIR OUT OF THE BALLOON TO DESCEND FOR ANOTHER ATTEMPT AT A LANDING. THE BALLOON SETTLED RAPIDLY CAUSING THE GONDOLA TO BOUNCE UPON STRIKING THE GROUND. THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DA^ WAS THROWN OUT OF THE GONDOLA UPON IMPACT, HE HELD ONTO THE VENT LINE AS THE BALLOON FLOATED UP AND INTO A TREE. THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DA^ FELL ABOUT 20 FEET FROM THE END OF THE ROPE TO THE GROUND, CRUSHING A DISC IN HIS BACK AND FRACTURING HIS PELVIS. AS THE BALLOON DEFLATED FROM A RIP IN THE ENVELOPE, THE GONDOLA LOWERED THE TWO PASSENGERS TO THE GROUND WITHOUT 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 CHI05CA133](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI05CA133), May 28, 2005: Aerostar S-57A (N71072), Sparta, MO, minor damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inability to maintain a proper descent rate due to the wind gust resulting in a hard landing. Contributing factors were the wind gust and the tree struck during 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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