# NTSB LAX89LA131: Aerostar Raven 560, N767AA, Tucson, AZ, February 19, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 19, 1989, 08:40 local (15:40 UTC)
- Place: Tucson, AZ
- Coordinates: 32.150112, -110.929542 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1501&lon=-110.9295&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 29, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26356
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX89LA131
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26356/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89LA131

## Probable cause

BALLOON ENTERED INTO A SEVERE DOWN DRAFT WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING DUE TO INADEQUATE PREPARATION AND COMPENSATION FOR THE CONDITIONS BY THE BALLOON PILOT.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, descent - normal
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Hard landing, descent - uncontrolled
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - recovery from bounced landing - delayed (cause)
- Miscellaneous/other, landing - roll
  - balloon equipment,basket - chafed (contributing factor)
  - evacuation - premature, passenger (cause)
  - anxiety/apprehension, passenger (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT OF A AEROSTAR RAVEN 560 (BALLOON), DURING THE DESCENT FOR LANDING ENCOUNTERED A DOWN DRAFT WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING NEAR TUCSON, ARIZONA. THE BALLOON COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE FINALLY COMING TO REST. THE PILOT SAID THAT, 'I WAS PREPARING FOR LANDING AND AT APPROXIMATELY 40 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL WHEN I ENCOUNTERED A SEVERE DOWN DRAFT OF APPROXIMATELY 1000 FEET PER MINUTE. I INSTRUCTED THE PASSENGERS TO PREPARE FOR A FIRM LANDING. AFTER HITTING THE GROUND, DRAGGING APPROXIMATELY 10 YARDS AND GOING AIRBORNE, WE RETURNED AND STRUCK THE GROUND AGAIN'...ONE ELEVEN YEAR OLD PASSENGER JUMPED OUT OF THE BALLOON WHILE WE WERE DRAGGING ACROSS THE DESERT'...SHE [THIS PASSENGER] SUFFERED A BROKEN ARM UPON HITTING THE GROUND...' THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE BALLOON PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N767AA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N767AA-2001-05-12), registration cancelled 2001-05-12, S/N S60A-3080 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSTAR RAVEN 560
- Registry model: [Aerostar International S-60A](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-international-s-60a) (registry code 7486060) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Airframe hours: 35
- Engines: none unknown
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Nevada High, Inc.
- Registered owner: Nevada High, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 9, 1989, 1 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 10,000 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19890219007129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890219007129A), Feb 19, 1989: Raven S60A, Tucson, AZ. Downdraft caused hard landing and balloon dragged on ground. An eleven year old passenger jumped out and was injured

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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