# NTSB DEN86LA010: Raven S60A, N4395C, Albuquerque, NM, October 14, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 13, 1985, 18:00 local (Oct 14, 1985, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Albuquerque, NM
- Coordinates: 35.109962, -106.619262 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1100&lon=-106.6193&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor, 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16873
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN86LA010
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16873/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN86LA010

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing
  - object - fence
  - object - residence

## Analysis

DURING LANDING, WHILE THE BASKET OF A RAVEN BALLOON WAS BEING PULLED BY THE WIND DRIVEN ENVELOPE, IT STRUCK A FENCE AND A MOBILE HOME TRAILER. OF THE FOUR PASSENGERS ABOARD, ONE RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES AND ONE RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE PILOT STATED THAT IF HE HAD HAD MORE EXPERIENCE IN THIS TYPE BALLOON, HE MIGHT HAVE DONE THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4395C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4395C-2013-02-08), registration cancelled 2013-02-08, S/N S60A-314, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: RAVEN S60A
- Registry model: [Raven S-60A](https://openairdocs.org/model/raven-s-60a) (registry code 7480606) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: 314
- Airframe hours: 953
- Engines: none unknown
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Kenny Gibson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 2, 1985
- Airport: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; commercial; medical: unknown; flight hours: 174 total, 23 in this make and model, 174 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 69 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ABQ, 6 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19851013051309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19851013051309A), Oct 13, 1985: Raven S60A, Albuquerque, NM, Minor damage. Wind reported to have pushed gondola into a fence and trailer. Go around completed with injuries.

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.

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