# Accident 20120316004789A: Raven Industries Inc S-66A, Marana, AZ, March 16, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 16, 2012, 08:10 local time
- Place: Marana, AZ
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.4348° N, 111.3156° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4348&lon=-111.3156&mi=10
- Aircraft: N57194, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N57194) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Raven Industries S-66A (registry code 7480612, https://openairdocs.org/model/raven-industries-s-66a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: RAVEN INDUSTRIES INC S-66A
- Reported engine: NONE NONE
- People aboard: 9
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,240 total, 200 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR12LA138](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA138) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120316004789A

## Narrative

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

BALLOON N57194 APPROACHED AN OPEN FIELD FOR LANDING BUT THE WIND CHANGED AND THE BALLOON WAS BEING BLOWN TOWARD SOME POWER LINES. HE CLIMBED UP ABOVE THE POWER LINES TO MAKE ANOTHER APPROACH TO OPEN DESERT BEYOND THE POWER LINES. AS HE SET UP FOR HIS APPROACH AND DESCENT HE ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE TOP OF THE ENVOLOPE JUST SLIGHTLY, AS HE HAD DONE MANY TIMES BEFORE, BUT SOON REALIZED THAT THE TOP OPENED MUCH MORE THAN PLANNED. HE TRIED TO OVERCOME DESCENT BY ADDING HEAT TO THE ENVELOPE BUT QUICKLY REALIZED HE WAS HEADED FOR THE POWER LINES. HE MADE THE DECISION TO OPEN THE TOP FULLY TO AVOID LANDING DIRECTLY ON TOP OF THE POWER LINES. THE BALLOON ENDED UP SLIDING DOWN THE EDGE OF THE ENVELOPE ON THE WIRES WITH SOME MELTING OF THE FABRIC. TWO OF THE 8 PASSENGERS HAD SOME OF THE MELTING FABRIC LAND ON THEM. BOTH REPORTED AS MINOR. NO OTHER PASSENGER RECEIVED ANY INJURIES.

## 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 WPR12LA138](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA138), Mar 16, 2012: Raven Industries S-66A (N57194), Avra Valley, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper decision to partially open the balloon's vent before clearing a power line while landing, which resulted in the balloon descending too soon and contacting the power line.

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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