# NTSB IAD05IA004: Raven Industries S-60A, Auburn, ME, October 14, 2004

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · Minor injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: October 14, 2004, 17:55 local (21:55 UTC)
- Place: Auburn, ME
- Coordinates: 44.048332, -70.283332
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0483&lon=-70.2833&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 28, 2005
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 60352
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD05IA004
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60352/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD05IA004

## Probable cause

The pilot's maneuver into a tree, which resulted in an inadvertent contact between a branch and a passenger.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, descent
  - object - tree(s)
  - low altitude flight/maneuver - performed, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

During the descent, the pilot elected to decelerate the balloon by brushing the basket through an apple tree.  During the maneuver, a branch from the tree came in contact with one of the passenger's hands, cutting it.  The accident was downgraded to an incident when it was learned that the passenger's injuries were minor.

## Factual narrative

On October 14, 2004, at 1755 eastern daylight time, a Raven Industries, Inc. S-60A balloon, Canadian registry C-GGAX, was not damaged when it contacted a tree near Auburn, Maine. The certificated commercial pilot and passengers were not injured, and one passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 sightseeing flight.

According to the pilot, during the descent the balloon encountered a downdraft.  He activated the burners in order to ascend the balloon, and overshot the intended landing area.  He then attempted to decelerate the balloon by brushing the basket through an apple tree.  A branch from the tree came in contact with one of the passenger's hands, cutting it.

Initial reports indicated that the passenger had sustained a serious injury during the accident.  It was later learned that the injuries were minor, and the accident was subsequently downgraded to an incident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: C-GGAX (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Raven Industries S-60A
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: S60A-211
- Airframe hours: 221
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Other work use, Part 91
- Operator: Derald Young
- Registered owner: Great Canadian Hot Air Balloons
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 11, 2003, 54 hours before
- Departed: NONE, Lewiston, ME
- Airport: LEW, Auburn/Lewiston Muni Airport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 29, 2003; seat: right; flight hours: 2,957 total, 187 in this make and model, 75 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 100° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 29.70 inHg
- Observed at: LEW, 5 nm away

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.