# NTSB FTW96LA303: Raven Ralley RX7, N4014K, Gunnison, CO, July 5, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 5, 1996, 07:31 local (13:31 UTC)
- Place: Gunnison, CO
- Coordinates: 38.540901, -106.920814 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5409&lon=-106.9208&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 24, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19908
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA303
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19908/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA303

## Probable cause

the pilot's inadequate weather evaluation.  A factor was the high wind.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

During the second passenger load, on an air tour flight, the flight encountered high winds.  The pilot 'ripped out' the balloon at 15 to 20 feet above ground level and told the passengers to hang on.  Initially the basket was dragged across the ground but became airborne and the second touchdown was hard causing damage to the basket and support structure.

## Factual narrative

On July 5, 1996, at 0731 mountain daylight time, a Raven, Ralley RX7 Balloon, N4014K,  made a hard landing near Gunnison, Colorado.  The commercial pilot and two passengers were not injured and the balloon sustained substantial damage.  The flight was an air tour flight operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.

According to the pilot, she flew one tour and exchanged passengers.  On the second part of the flight the winds increased to approximately 30 miles per hour.  The pilot said she selected a landing area, told the passengers to hold on, and "ripped out" the balloon at 15 to 20 feet above ground level (agl).  She said touch down was not hard and the basket was being dragged across the ground.  During this excursion, the balloon became airborne to about 30 feet agl and the landing following this was hard crushing the floor of the basket, bending the uprights, and shearing the retention pins.

Reported weather from the Gunnison AWOS taken approximately 4 minutes after the accident is detailed under Weather Information in this document.  At the time, the reported wind at the Gunnison Airport, located approximately 3 miles southeast of the accident site, was from 360 degrees magnetic at 6 knots.

The pilot operator report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) is attached and provides no information on the passengers or maintenance on the balloon.  The accident was not reported until a week following the occurrence when the operator took the balloon to a repair station.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4014K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4014K-2003-10-25), registration cancelled 2003-10-25, S/N RX7-275, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Raven RALLEY RX7
- Registry model: [Raven Industries RALLY RX7](https://openairdocs.org/model/raven-industries-rally-rx7) (registry code 7480503) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: RX7-275
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Patricia J. Brake
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: GUC, GUNNISON, CO

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; commercial

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: GUC, 3 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 19960705046979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960705046979A), Jul 5, 1996: Raven RX7, Gunnison, CO, Substantial damage. (-16) On July 5, 1996 at 0745 mountain daylight time, a Raven ralley RX7 balloon, N4014K, piloted by patricia j. brake, cert. # 513445998, made a hard landing…

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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