- Date
- July 12, 1993, 19:16 local (Jul 13, 1993, 02:16 UTC)
- Place
- La Jolla, CA
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 uninjured; on the ground: 1 serious
- Damage
- No damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N2809DRaven S-60A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 30, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930712052059A
- Case key
- 28426
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the failure of the injured ground crewman to release his hold on the basket in a timely manner when instructed by the pilot.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The student pilot said he was initiating a takeoff for a local area solo flight. When the balloon was ready for liftoff, the student reportedly used the phrase 'crew weight off' in a customary voice call during the takeoff maneuver. Three of the four ground crewman released their hold on the basket, while the fourth individual did not let go. The basket rose rapidly and the fourth ground crewman let go of the basket at an estimated height of 30 to 40 feet above ground level. The fourth crewman fell to the ground and sustained multiple bone fractures.
Factual narrative
On July 12, 1993, at 1916 Pacific daylight time, a ground crewman sustained serious injuries during the takeoff of a Raven Industries S60A balloon, N2809D, near La Jolla, California. The balloon was owned and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the operation. The balloon was not damaged. The certificated student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The injured ground crewman sustained multiple fractures of both legs. The flight was originating at the time of the accident as a local area student solo instructional flight.
The student pilot said he was initiating a takeoff for a local area solo flight. When the balloon was ready for liftoff, the student reportedly used the phrase "crew weight off" in a customary voice call during the takeoff maneuver. Three of the four ground crewman released their hold on the basket, while the fourth individual did not let go. The basket rose rapidly and the fourth ground crewman let go of the basket at an estimated height of 30 to 40 feet above ground level. The fourth crewman fell to the ground and sustained multiple bone fractures.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2809D
- Reported as
- Raven S-60A
- Category
- Balloon
- Serial number
- S60A-403
- Airframe hours
- 3,360
- Engine
- unknown
- Damage
- No damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- William R. Miller
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 1, 1993 · 1 hours before
- Departed
- NONE
- Destination
- NONE
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 25
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Unknown
- Flight hours
- 32 total · 10 in this make and model · 2 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 2 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.