Raven S-60A accident near La Jolla, California, July 13, 1993
On July 13, 1993 at about 2:16 am local time, a Raven S-60A (balloon), registered N2809D, was involved in an accident near La Jolla, California. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the failure of the injured ground crewman to release his hold on the basket in a timely manner when instructed by the pilot.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 13, 1993 · about 2:16 am local time · cases in 1993
- Place
- La Jolla, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Raven S-60A · all S-60As on the register
- Registration
- N2809D · no longer on the register · serial S60A-403
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 32 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 2 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,360 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 1993; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,470 lb
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 7:15 pm
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N2809D: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Raven S-60 32 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Raven 106 aircraft on the register
- Engine: · as the NTSB recorded it
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,096 in the last ten years
- California 28,112 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/LAX93LA289.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.