ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 356393
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| Date: | Saturday 21 December 1996 |
| Time: | 10:20 LT |
| Type: |  Raven S-60A |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | N4396K |
| MSN: | S60A-333 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 286 hours |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3 |
| Aircraft damage: | None |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Rio Rancho, NM -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Landing |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
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.
Probable Cause: The passenger's failure to follow recommended procedures to properly brace for a high wind landing. A factor was the windshear.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB FTW97LA068
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 13-Mar-2024 06:44 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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