Aerostar-Raven S-60-A accident near Clyde, Ohio, July 6, 1997
On July 6, 1997 at about 11:30 am local time, a Aerostar-Raven S-60-A (balloon), registered N3590H, was involved in an accident near Clyde, Ohio. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An abrupt touchdown to avoid power lines which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to properly brief the passengers for the landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 6, 1997 · about 11:30 am local time
- Place
- Clyde, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerostar-Raven S-60-A
- Registration
- N3590H · no longer on the register · serial S-60A-3093
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The balloon overflew the intended point of landing and a second field site was chosen for a full stop landing. After the balloon basket skimmed the treetops at the approach end of the field, the pilot expedited the landing due to high-tension power lines at the downwind end of the field. The pilot had briefed the two passengers to stand on one leg, with the other leg braced against the basket wall facing the direction of travel. Both passengers described the descent as 'straight down', followed by a hard landing. Guidance provided in an FAA approved flight manual directs passengers not to brace against the basket wall and to stand with knees slightly bent to absorb shock. It further stated that passengers should be briefed to face away from the direction of travel.
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: 852 hours in all; 526 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 842 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Wolfcreek Park OH at 10:30 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:51 am from TOL, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.
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.