# NTSB CHI88LA158: Raven S55A, N4186E, Mishawaka, IN, July 4, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 3, 1988, 20:00 local (Jul 4, 1988, 01:00 UTC)
- Place: Mishawaka, IN
- Coordinates: 41.660003, -86.160339 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6600&lon=-86.1603&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 29, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14111
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI88LA158
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14111/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI88LA158

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water encounter with weather, landing
  - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)
  - passenger briefing - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - balloon equipment,basket - dumped (contributing factor)

## Analysis

AFTER SHORT PERSONAL FLIGHT, THE PILOT OF THE BALLOON MADE A LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD. THE GONDOLA TURNED OVER AND WAS DRAGGED THROUGH THE FIELD. THE PAX SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURIES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4186E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4186E-2013-07-30), registration cancelled 2013-07-30, S/N S55A-882, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: RAVEN S55A
- 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: S55A882
- Airframe hours: 188
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Steele, Larry O.
- Registered owner: Larry O Steele
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 23, 1988, 4 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; commercial; medical: unknown; flight hours: 164 total, 142 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SBN, 12 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

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

- [Accident 19880704025969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880704025969A), Jul 4, 1988: Raven S55A, Mishawaka, IN. A passenger was injured on landing when the wind blew the gondola over and dragged it over the ground.

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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