# NTSB FTW96LA001: Aerostar S60A, N63286, Baton Rouge, LA, October 1, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 1, 1995, 18:45 local (23:45 UTC) - Place: Baton Rouge, LA - Coordinates: 30.399866, -91.139747 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3999&lon=-91.1397&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 19, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19677 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA001 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19677/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA001 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO COMPENSATE FOR WIND CONDITIONS AND MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM THE POWER LINES DURING THE APPROACH. A FACTOR WAS THE SUDDEN WIND GUST. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, approach - compensation for wind conditions - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - clearance - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - wire,transmission ## Analysis AFTER AN UNEVENTFUL FLIGHT, THE BALLOON PILOT COMMENCED AN APPROACH TO LAND IN A FIELD LOCATED BETWEEN POWER LINES AND AN APARTMENT COMPLEX. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, SHE 'PASSED OVER THE POWER LINES', AND ABOUT 20 FEET PRIOR TO TOUCH DOWN, A 'SUDDEN, STRONG GUST OF WIND' PUSHED THE BALLOON 'DOWNWARD AND BACKWARD.' SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ENVELOPE CONTACTED THE POWER LINES THAT SHE HAD JUST PASSED OVER, AND THE BASKET CONTACTED THE GROUND. AFTER CONTACTING THE GROUND, THE BALLOON BEGAN TO SLIDE SIDEWAYS AND CONTACTED ANOTHER POWER LINE. ## Factual narrative On October 1, 1995, at 1845 central daylight time, an Aerostar S60A balloon, N63286, was substantially damaged during an approach to land in a field near Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. The balloon, owned by the pilot, was being operated under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The personal flight was participating in a local ballooning event. A flight plan was not filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. In an interview, the pilot stated that she commenced an approach to land in a field located between power lines and an apartment complex. During the approach, she "passed over the power lines", and about 20 feet prior to touch down, a "sudden, strong gust of wind" pushed the balloon "downward and backward." Subsequently, the envelope contacted the power lines that she had "passed over", and the basket contacted the ground. She further stated that, after contacting the ground, the balloon began to slide sideways and contacted another power line. Examination of the balloon revealed arcing on the basket attaching cables and a torn envelope. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N63286](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N63286-2020-04-28), registration cancelled 2020-04-28, S/N S60A-3149, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AEROSTAR S60A - Registry model: [Aerostar International S-60A](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-international-s-60a) (registry code 7486060) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Airframe hours: 112 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Gale M. Smith - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 2, 1995, 26 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; private; medical: unknown; flight hours: 120 total, 116 in this make and model, 104 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 95° at 6 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 75 °F ## 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 19951001030729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951001030729A), Oct 1, 1995: Raven S60A, Baton Rouge, LA, Substantial damage. On descent to land, ground crew could not hold balloon, went into high voltage power line, arched and burned. ## Other investigations on N63286 (1) 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. - [NTSB FTW96LA242](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA242), Jun 9, 1996: Aerostar S-60A (N63286), San Angelo, TX, minor damage. Probable cause: failure of the pilot to maintain altitude or clearance from a tree, during an approach to land in a field. 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.