Raven RX-7 N4046M
13 November 1999 · Phoenix, Arizona, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 13 November 1999 at about 15:00 local time, a Raven RX-7 registered N4046M was involved in an accident near Phoenix, Arizona, United States. 3 people were on board and one was seriously injured, 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 15:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Phoenix, Arizona, United States
- Coordinates
- 33.6795, -112.0907
- Aircraft
- Raven RX-7
- Registration
- N4046M
- Category
- Balloon
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX00LA033
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
Probable cause
The pilot's delay in initiating a climb and his subsequent failure to attain and maintain clearance from mountainous terrain.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
Liftoff and initial stages of the flight were uneventful. As the flight proceeded, the balloon approached a steep-sided mountain and the pilot initiated a climb. He realized he was not going to clear the mountain and secured the heat prior to colliding with the ground. The balloon contacted the ground near the mountain crest, turning the gondola on its side. The balloon drifted off the other side of the mountain, the pilot reapplied heat, and flew several miles before completing an uneventful landing. The gondola sustained substantial damage and one passenger suffered a fractured leg.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Raven RX-7 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Jul 1989 | Raven RX-7 | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 9 Jan 1988 | Raven RX-7 | Rio Rancho, New Mexico, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 7 Apr 1986 | Raven RX-7 | Beaverton, Oregon, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 28 Feb 1983 | Raven RX-7 | Anchorage, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 22 Aug 1982 | Raven RX-7 | Phillip, South Dakota, United States | Richard Burns | Serious injuries | - |
| 13 Dec 1981 | Raven RX-7 | Gallup, New Mexico, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Mar 1999 | Boeing Stearman A75N1 | Mesa, Arizona, United States | Russell L. Allen | No injuries | - |
| 22 Mar 1999 | Piper PA-28-181 | Scottsdale, Arizona, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 7 Oct 1999 | Bell 206B | Apache Junction, Arizona, United States | Arizona Heliservices Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 9 Apr 1999 | Witzel GLASSAIR II FT | Casa Grande, Arizona, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 6 May 1999 | Widner RV-3A | Casa Grande, Arizona, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 20 Mar 1999 | Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415E | Kingman, Arizona, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |