Raven S77A N4207U
21 June 1989 · Rio Rancho, New Mexico, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 21 June 1989 at about 13:45 local time, a Raven S77A registered N4207U, operated by World Balloon Corporation, was involved in an accident near Rio Rancho, New Mexico, United States. 9 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 13:45
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Rio Rancho, New Mexico, United States
- Coordinates
- 35.2705, -106.6598
- Aircraft
- Raven S77A
- Registration
- N4207U
- Category
- Balloon
- Operator
- World Balloon Corporation
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Albuquerque → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Not recorded
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- DEN89LA145
People
2 people were seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
Probable cause
A HARD LANDING DUE TO THE PILOTS FAILURE TO ACCURATELY EVALUATE THE WEATHER CONDITIONS ALONG WITH A DELAY IN MAKING A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE HIGH WINDS AND WIND SHEAR ALONG WITH ROUGH/UNEVEN TERRAIN.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE BALLOON PILOT TOOK OFF WITH 8 PASSENGERS ON A SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT. LATER INTO THE FLIGHT, THE WINDS STARTED TO INCREASE AND SUITABLE LANDING AREAS BECAME SCARCE. THE PILOT DECIDED TO LAND ON A MESA. SHE SAID SHE GAVE THE PASSENGERS TWO HIGH WIND LANDING BRIEFINGS. DURING THE ENSUING HARD LANDING, ONE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A FRACTURED ARM AND ANOTHER PASSENGER FRACTURED A FOOT. THE BALLOON WAS NOT DAMAGED. ALBUQUERQUE, NM, AT 0750 MDT REPORTED THE WIND FROM 220 DEGREES AT 10 KTS WITH NO GUSTS. THIS WAS 15 NM FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE WHERE THE PLT REPT 15KT WINDS WITH GUSTS TO 20 KTS AND A LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Raven S77A accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Jul 1987 | Raven S77A | Silverthorne, Colorado, United States | Michael Bauwens | Serious injuries | - |
| 26 Jul 1987 | Raven S77A | Tucson, Arizona, United States | Fendler, Joseph | Serious injuries | - |
| 5 May 1985 | Raven S77A | Fort Collins, Colorado, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Jan 1989 | Beechcraft 19 | Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 5 Jan 1989 | Bumgartner/Hirt STEEN SKYBOLT | Quemado, New Mexico, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 18 Jan 1989 | Cessna 140 | Farmington, New Mexico, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 24 Jan 1989 | Piper PA-34-200T | Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 19 Feb 1989 | Piper PA-46-310P | Angel Fire, New Mexico, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 5 Apr 1989 | Cessna 182P | Los Lunas, New Mexico, United States | Henry E. Bielinski | Minor injuries | - |