# NTSB SEA85LA089: Raven R-7, N41964, Mt. Vernon, WA, April 6, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 6, 1985, 18:42 local (23:42 UTC)
- Place: Mt. Vernon, WA
- Coordinates: 48.420227, -122.419395 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.4202&lon=-122.4194&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40139
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA85LA089
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40139/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA85LA089

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - in-flight planning/decision - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of recent experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT DISCOVERED AFTER A HARD LANDING THAT HIS LEG WAS BROKEN. THIS WAS THE STUDENTS SECOND SOLO IN HOT AIR BALLOONS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N41964](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N41964-1996-09-19), registration cancelled 1996-09-19, S/N S55A938 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: RAVEN R-7
- Registry model: [Raven S55A](https://openairdocs.org/model/raven-s55a) (registry code 7480402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: S55A938
- Airframe hours: 170
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Samdee Hanley
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 3, 1984, 13 hours before
- Departed: 75S, BURLINGTON, WA
- Destination: MT. VERNON, WA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 8,920 total, 12 in this make and model, 8,600 as pilot in command, 61 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °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 19850406014129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850406014129A), Apr 6, 1985: Raven S55A, Mount Vernon, WA. Basket rolled over on landing and student suffered a broken leg. Normal 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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