# NTSB FTW02LA014: Aerostar Raven S57-A, N3636Z, Albuquerque, NM, October 13, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 13, 2001, 07:55 local (13:55 UTC) - Place: Albuquerque, NM - Coordinates: 35.149669, -106.580574 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1497&lon=-106.5806&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor - Status: Completed, report January 16, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 53650 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA014 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53650/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA014 ## Probable cause inadvertent flight into adverse (high wind) weather conditions, which resulted in an inflight collision with objects while landing. A contributing factor was the high wind weather condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor) - flight into adverse weather - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, landing - object - utility pole - object - building(nonresidential) - object - fence ## Analysis The pilot intended for the flight to be short; however, after takeoff, the wind increased and the balloon over flew the intended landing area. The pilot then selected a field at a school in which to land. The field had wires along its edge. As the balloon was clearing the wires, the pilot vented the balloon, but the balloon continued to float past the field, impacting a wooden telephone post located near a building. The balloon rotated, struck the building, and came to rest with its basket on a fence. The pilot reported that at the time of the accident, the wind had increased to approximately 30 knots with gusts to 35 knots. A weather reporting station located approximately 7 miles southeast of the accident site reported the wind speed at 10 knots. ## Factual narrative On October 13, 2001, at 0755 mountain daylight time, an Aerostar Raven S57-A hot-air balloon, N3636Z, was substantially damaged when it collided with a building during landing near Albuquerque, New Mexico. The balloon was registered to and operated by private individuals. The private pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries, and one passenger sustained a serious injury. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight originated from the Balloon Fiesta Park, at 0740. The pilot reported to the FAA inspector that the intended flight was to be short; however, after takeoff, the wind increased and the balloon over flew the intended landing area. The pilot then selected a field at the Del Norte High School in which to land. The field had wires along its edge. As the balloon was clearing the wires, the pilot vented the balloon, but the balloon continued to float past the field, impacting a wooden telephone post located near a building. The balloon rotated, struck the building, and came to rest with its basket on a fence. The balloon's envelope, basket, and basket uprights were damaged. The pilot reported that at the time of the accident, the wind had increased to approximately 30 knots with gusts to 35 knots. At 0750, the Albuquerque International Sunport Airport (ABQ), located approximately 7 miles southeast of the accident site, reported the wind from 010 degrees at 10 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, sky clear, temperature 7 degrees C, dew point -13 degrees C, altimeter 30.01 inches of mercury (Hg). ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3636Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3636Z), registered now, S/N S57A-3077, built 1989 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aerostar Raven S57-A - Registry model: [Aerostar International RAVEN S57-A](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-international-raven-s57-a) (registry code 7485057) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: S57A-3077 - Airframe hours: 330.6 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Bradley S. Rice - Registered owner: Debbie Jo Heckes, Tom Fisher, Bradle Rice - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 9, 2001, 66.6 hours before - Departed: Albuquerque, NM ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; injuries: minor; private; last flight review June 7, 2000; flight hours: 62 total, 62 in this make and model, 47 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 9 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: ABQ, 7 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 20011013029399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011013029399A), Oct 13, 2001: Raven S57A, Albuquerque, NM, Substantial damage. (.19) On October 13, 2001, at 0755 mountain daylight time, an Aerostar Raven S57-A hot-air balloon, N3636Z, was substantially damaged during landing near… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.