# NTSB DEN87LA065: Raven S60A, N2803L, Grand Lake, CO, March 7, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 7, 1987, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Grand Lake, CO
- Coordinates: 40.249385, -105.819442 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2494&lon=-105.8194&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 25, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17174
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN87LA065
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17174/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN87LA065

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - uncontrolled
  - balloon equipment,burner system - disabled (cause)
  - remedial action - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - balloon equipment,envelope - pressure too low (cause)
  - balloon equipment,envelope - distorted (cause)
  - emergency procedure - performed, pilot in command
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s)
  - terrain condition - none suitable

## Analysis

THE BALLOON ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE DURING NORMAL CRUISE AT 100 TO 150 FEET AGL, WHILE CROSSING A RIDGELINE. GUSTS EXTINGUISHED BOTH BURNER PLT LIGHTS AND PARTIALLY COLLAPSED THE ENVELOPE. THE BALLOON BEGAN AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT. THE PLT RE-IGNITED BOTH BURNER PLT LIGHTS AND APPLIED FULL BURN TO SLOW THE RATE OF DESCENT. THE ENVELOPE WAS IMPALED ON TREES AND THE GONDOLA LANDED ON OPEN GROUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2803L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2803L-2017-05-15), registration cancelled 2017-05-15, S/N S60A-392, built 1985 (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: S60A392
- Airframe hours: 45
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Henry C. Vanschaack
- Registered owner: Henry C. Van Schaack IV
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 28, 1986, 20 hours before
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; commercial; medical: unknown; flight hours: 96 total, 96 in this make and model, 87 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 36 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19870307005039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870307005039A), Mar 7, 1987: Raven S60A, Grand Lake, CO, Substantial damage. The balloon encountered turbulence which blew out the pilot lights. The pilot safely landed among a stand of trees.

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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