# NTSB FTW93LA010: Raven S-60A, N8EN, Albuquerque, NM, October 8, 1992 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 8, 1992, 07:32 local (13:32 UTC) - Place: Albuquerque, NM - Coordinates: 35.060344, -106.619712 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0603&lon=-106.6197&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious, 4 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 14, 1993 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 18595 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW93LA010 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18595/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW93LA010 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN VISUAL LOOKOUT. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) THE PILOT OF THE OTHER AIRCRAFT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN VISUAL LOOKOUT. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, climb - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - balloon equipment,envelope - ruptured - emergency procedure - performed, pilot in command - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - proper descent rate - not possible, pilot in command - Midair collision, cruise - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) THE PILOT OF BALLOON 'A' INITIATED AN ASCENT FROM APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET AGL AT AN ESTIMATED RATE OF 300 FEET PER MINUTE. THE PILOT STATED ANOTHER BALLOON IMPACTED HIS ENVELOPE WITH ITS BASKET AT AN ESTIMATED 350 FEET AGL. THE UPPER PORTION OF THE BALLOON'S FABRIC WAS TORN AND RUPTURED. BALLOON 'A' PILOT INITIATED AN EMERGENCY DESCENT AND LANDED HARD. THE PILOT OF BALLOON 'B' STATED HER ALTITUDE TO BE APPROXIMATELY 500 FEET AGL WHEN THE MIDAIR OCCURRED. SHE STATED WHEN SHE SAW BALLOON 'A' SHE STARTED BURNING CONTINUOUSLY AND OBSERVED AN ASCENT RATE OF 500 FEET PER MINUTE ON HER VSI. AFTER IMPACT SHE UNTANGLED THE BASKET FROM THE OTHER BALLOON'S ENVELOPE AND MADE A NORMAL LANDING. THE FAA INSPECTOR REPORTED THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS AS DESCRIBED BY GROUND OBSERVERS TO BE MORE NEAR THE STATEMENT MADE BY THE PILOT OF BALLOON 'A'. HE ALSO STATED ANY BALLOON POSITIONED HIGHER THAN OTHERS IS RESPONSIBLE TO 'SEE AND AVOID'. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) THE PILOT OF BALLOON 'A' INITIATED AN ASCENT FROM APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET AGL AT AN ESTIMATED RATE OF 300 FEET PER MINUTE. THE PILOT STATED ANOTHER BALLOON IMPACTED HIS ENVELOPE WITH ITS BASKET AT AN ESTIMATED 350 FEET AGL. THE UPPER PORTION OF THE BALLOONS FABRIC WAS TORN AND RUPTURED. BALLOON 'A' PILOT INITIATED AN EMERGENCY DESCENT AND LANDED HARD. THE PILOT OF BALLOON 'B' STATED HER ALTITUDE TO BE APPROXIMATELY 500 FEET AGL WHEN THE MIDAIR OCCURRED. SHE STATED WHEN SHE SAW BALLOON 'A' SHE STARTED BURNING CONTINUOUSLY AND OBSERVED AN ASCENT RATE OF 500 FEET PER MINUTE ON HER VSI. AFTER IMPACT SHE UNTANGLED THE BASKET FROM THE OTHER BALLOON'S ENVELOPE AND MADE A NORMAL LANDING. THE FAA INSPECTOR REPORTED THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS AS DESCRIBED BY GROUND OBSERVERS TO BE MORE NEAR THE STATEMENT MADE BY THE PILOT OF BALLOON 'A'. HE ALSO STATED ANY BALLOON POSITIONED HIGHER THAN OTHERS IS RESPONSIBLE TO 'SEE AND AVOID'. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N8EN](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8EN-2022-07-02), registration cancelled 2022-07-02, S/N S60A-305, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: RAVEN S-60A - 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: 305 - Airframe hours: 529 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Butterfield, Richard S. - Registered owner: Butterfield, Richard S. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 1992, 40 hours before - Departed: NONE ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N57115](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N57115-2013-04-23), registration cancelled 2013-04-23, S/N S55A-663, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: RAVEN S55A - Registry model: [Raven S55A](https://openairdocs.org/model/raven-s55a) (registry code 7480402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 663 - Airframe hours: 415 - Engines: unknown - Damage: No damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Martin-Rowlee, Judith L. - Registered owner: Martin-Rowlee, Judith L. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 10, 1991, 23 hours before - Departed: NONE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N8EN; age 51; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; flight hours: 3,828 total, 154 in this make and model - Pilot, aircraft N57115; age 36; commercial; flight hours: 264 total, 255 in this make and model, 250 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 4 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19921008042542A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19921008042542A), Oct 8, 1992: Raven S60A, Albuquerque, NM, Substantial damage. During ascent top of balloon struck gondola of N57115 that was level but failed to yield. Landed hard. Hole in bag. - [Accident 19921008042541A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19921008042541A), Oct 8, 1992: Raven S55A, Albuquerque, NM. Gondola struck by balloon rising underneath,N8EN,was able to untangle,landed safe. Fail to note rising balloon. 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.