# Accident 20051008022589A: Raven S57A, Albuquerque, NM, October 8, 2005

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 8, 2005, 08:30 local time
- Place: Albuquerque, NM
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Sfl Go Around
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.0450° N, 106.6153° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0450&lon=-106.6153&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3635U, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3635U) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aerostar International RAVEN S57-A (registry code 7485057, https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-international-raven-s57-a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: RAVEN S57A
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 200 total, 150 in this make and model, 14 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DEN06LA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN06LA002) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20051008022589A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON OCTOBER 8, 2005, AT 0830 MDT, N3635U, AN AEROSTAR S57A HOT AIR BALLOON SANK IN THE RIO GRANDE RIVER NORTH OF ALBUQUERQUE, NM. THE ENVELOPE DEFLATED WHEN THE CROWN AND VENT CONTROL LINES BECAME ENTANGLED IN A TREE, AND THE BALLOON IMPACTED THE WATER. THE BALLOON WAS BEING OPERATED ON A PRIVATE FLIGHT AS PART OF THE ALBUQUERQUE INTERNATIONAL BALLOON FIESTA WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE ENVELOPE WAS DESTROYED DURING THE EVENT, WHEN IT WAS SWEPT BY THE CURRENT INTO A SERIES OF "JETTY JACKS" ALONG THE BANK OF THE RIVER. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME. NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE PRIVATE PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS WERE NOT INJURED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM THE ALBUQUERQUE INTERNATIONAL BALLOON FIESTA FIELD AT APPROXIMATELY 0800 MDT.

## 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 DEN06LA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN06LA002), Oct 8, 2005: Aerostar S57-A (N3635U), Albuquerque, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's improper in flight planning decision to takeoff and land (splash and dash) in close proximity to trees. Contributing factors are the trees and the water.

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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