Aerostar RAVEN S49A N70451

Summary

On 13 April 2012 at about 00:00 local time, a Aerostar RAVEN S49A registered N70451, operated by Bushelle Aerial Photography LLC, was involved in an accident near Janesville, Wisconsin, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 April 2012 at 00:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Janesville, Wisconsin, United States

Coordinates

42.6747, -89.0397

Aircraft

Aerostar RAVEN S49A

Registration

N70451

Category

Balloon

Operator

Bushelle Aerial Photography LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Janesville → Janesville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN12LA248

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the powerlines while landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, he attempted to abort the landing when he saw that he was getting too close to the powerlines. He said he used a “continuous burn” to abort the landing; however, when it became apparent that the balloon would still hit the powerlines, he initiated an emergency descent. The balloon hit the powerlines and then descended to the ground. The impact with the powerlines caused an arc flash that burned the lower 20 percent of the balloon envelope.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.