Raven S-60A N4396K

Summary

On 21 December 1996 at about 16:20 local time, a Raven S-60A registered N4396K was involved in an accident near Rio Rancho, New Mexico, United States. 3 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 December 1996 at 16:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Rio Rancho, New Mexico, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Raven S-60A

Registration

N4396K

Category

Balloon

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW97LA068

1 person was seriously injured.

The passenger's failure to follow recommended procedures to properly brace for a high wind landing. A factor was the windshear.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

At takeoff, the surface wind speed was less than 4 knots. However, by the time of landing, the wind speed had increased to 12 to 15 knots. The pilot stated that the 'approach was normal with passengers braced for a high speed landing.' She followed 'standard procedure' for a high speed landing and pulled the top out of the balloon at about 15 to 20 feet agl. As the top was pulled, the balloon was 'hit by a windshear causing the air to exit faster than normal, and therefore, a hard landing.' According to one of the passengers, who was a commercial balloon pilot, there was nothing 'unusual or threatening to our normal descent in preparation for a landing. The 'windshear' seemed to 'throw' us straight down.' During the touchdown, one of the passengers, who was a balloon student pilot, broke his arm when he slid forward and fell against one of the propane tanks.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.