# NTSB DEN87LA174: Raven S77A, N41986, Silverthorne, CO, July 3, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 3, 1987, 09:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place: Silverthorne, CO
- Coordinates: 39.649055, -106.079429 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6491&lon=-106.0794&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 9 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 29, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17263
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN87LA174
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17263/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN87LA174

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - passenger briefing - not followed, passenger (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE COMMERCIAL BALLOON PILOT WAS CONDUCTING PASSENGER FLIGHTS. A LANDING WAS BEING MADE ON A PARKING LOT WITH TEN KNOTS OF WIND AND GUSTS TO TWENTY KNOTS. JUST AT TOUCHDOWN A LIGHT GUST CAUGHT THE BALLOON AND DRAGGED IT ONE HUNDRED FEET. ONE PASSENGER CHOSE TO JUMP OUT OF THE BASKET AND THE BASKET ROLLED OVER HIM RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURIES. NONE OF THE OTHER EIGHT PASSENGERS LEFT THE BASKET AND THERE WERE NO OTHER INJURIES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N41986](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N41986-2013-06-18), registration cancelled 2013-06-18, S/N S77A-101, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: RAVEN S77A
- Registry model: [Raven Industries S77A](https://openairdocs.org/model/raven-industries-s77a) (registry code 7480650) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: S77A101
- Airframe hours: 320
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: Michael Bauwens
- Registered owner: Michael G. Bauwens
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 1987

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; commercial; flight hours: 1,780 total, 1,780 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19870703034129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870703034129A), Jul 3, 1987: Raven S77A, Silverthorne, CO. Balloon made a hard landing in gusty surface wind. A passenger jumped out and the wind dragged the basket over him.

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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