# NTSB ANC83LA049: Raven RX-7, N4195L, Anchorage, AK, February 28, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 28, 1983, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Anchorage, AK
- Coordinates: 61.219848, -149.850006 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2198&lon=-149.8500&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 5 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4101
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC83LA049
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4101/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC83LA049

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Midair collision, climb
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot of other aircraft (cause)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, climb
  - balloon equipment,envelope - penetrated (cause)
- Forced landing, landing
- Midair collision, climb
  - visual lookout - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause)

## Analysis (aircraft 2)

THE TWO BALLOONS COLLIDED IN MID AIR. ONE (N4195L) SUFFERED A RIP IN THE ENVELOPE WHICH NEGATED ITS LIFT, WITH BURNER FULL ON. IT DESCENDED AT 500 RPM AND MADE A HARD LANDING. THE HOLE IN THE ENVELOPE EXTENDED ACROSS 5 GORE PANELS. THE 2 BALLOONS DEPARTED THE SAME AREA WITH N4195L IN THE LEAD. IT CLIMBED SLOWER AND THE OTHER BALLOON (N5563L) OVERCLIMBED ITAND SLID ACROSS THE TOP OF IT. A BOLT PROTRUDING FROM THE METAL BASKET OF N5563L RIPPED THE ENVELOPE OF N4195L. N5563L WAS NOT DAMAGED.

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: N4195L (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: RAVEN RX-7
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: SSSA 926
- Airframe hours: 140
- Engines: NONE NONE unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Nba Advertising Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 28, 1983, 40 hours before
- Departed: ANCHORAGE, AK
- Airport: MRI, Merrill Field

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N5563L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5563L), registered now, S/N S55A-554 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: RAVEN RX-7
- Registry model: [Raven S55A](https://openairdocs.org/model/raven-s55a) (registry code 7480402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: 555A-554
- Engines: NONE NONE unknown
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Timothy Brian Cooksey
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: ANCHORAGE, AK
- Airport: MRI, Merrill Field

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft N4195L; age 30; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown, unknown; flight hours: 305 total, 305 in this make and model, 11 as pilot in command, 44 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot, aircraft N5563L; age 32; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown, unknown

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 45 °F

## FAA reports on this event (2)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19830228004562A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830228004562A), Feb 28, 1983: Raven RX7, Anchorage, AK, No damage. Balloons collided while climbing after being launched at the same time. Other balloon N5563L.
- [Accident 19830228004561A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830228004561A), Feb 28, 1983: Raven RX7, Anchorage, AK. Balloons collided while climbing after being launched at the same time. Other balloon N4195L.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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