Aerostar RAVEN S-60 accident near Trenton, New Jersey, October 20, 1991
On October 20, 1991 at about 12:45 pm local time, a Aerostar RAVEN S-60 (balloon), registered N4057H, was involved in an accident near Trenton, New Jersey. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 4 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
EXCESSIVE DESCENT RATE BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND. A FACTOR WAS OVERLOADING OF THE BASKET.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 20, 1991 · about 12:45 pm local time
- Place
- Trenton, New Jersey
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 4 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerostar RAVEN S-60
- Registration
- N4057H · registry record · serial S60A-187
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE LANDING PHASE FOLLOWING A PLEASURE FLIGHT, THE PILOT ALLOWED AN EXCESSIVE DESCENT RATE AND THE BASKET STRUCK THE GROUND AND TURNED OVER. THE FOUR PASSENGERS WERE JOSTLED IN THE BASKET WHICH WAS DESIGNED FOR TWO OCCUPANTS.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 45 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 6 as pilot in command; 1 on instruments
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 370 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1991
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Ringoes NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 3 |
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.
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 never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.