# NTSB DEN88LA201: Raven S55A, N779TV, Fort Morgan, CO, August 27, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 27, 1988, 09:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Fort Morgan, CO
- Coordinates: 40.260158, -103.790443 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2602&lon=-103.7904&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 10, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17540
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN88LA201
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17540/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN88LA201

## Sequence of events

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

- Miscellaneous/other, landing - flare/touchdown
  - instructions,written/verbal - not followed, passenger (cause)
  - terrain condition - open field
  - terrain condition - berm (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT REPORTED THAT AT THE TIME OF TAKEOFF, THE WINDS WERE 'LIGHT TO MODERATE FROM 015 DEG AT 5 KTS OR LESS.' SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE WINDS INCREASED TO 10-15 KTS AND THE PLT DECIDED TO LAND ON 'GRASSY, RELATIVELY SMOOTH TERRAIN.' THE PLT SAID HE INSTRUCTED HIS TWO PAX TO 'BEND THEIR KNEES' AT OR JUST BEFORE TOUCHDOWN. ONE PAX LOCKED HER KNEES AND SUSTAINED A FRACTURED ANKLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO THE PLT OR THE OTHER PAX, AND THE BALLOON WAS NOT DAMAGED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N779TV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N779TV-1992-03-05), registration cancelled 1992-03-05, S/N S55A541 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: RAVEN S55A
- Registry model: [Raven S55A](https://openairdocs.org/model/raven-s55a) (registry code 7480402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: S55A-541
- Airframe hours: 266
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Dan E & Charlene L. Franks
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 2, 1988, 29 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; private; flight hours: 48 total, 48 in this make and model, 32 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 15° at 15 knots, gusting 8
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 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 19880827054269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880827054269A), Aug 27, 1988: Raven S55A, Ft Morgan, CO. Wind was gusting on takeoff then increased. Passengers advised to bend knees for landing. One received broken ankle

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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