# NTSB DEN76DQA44: Raven S-55A, N54708, Albuquerque, NM, April 25, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: April 25, 1976
- Place: Albuquerque, NM · ALBUQUERQUE, NM
- Location: 35.0845° N, 106.6511° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Albuquerque, NM, within about 8 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0845&lon=-106.6511&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 7, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 153422
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN76DQA44
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN76DQA44

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0946  76/4/25    ALBUQUERQUE,NM      RAVEN S-55A         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 45, 2052
        TIME - 1030                    N54708              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 150 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ALBUQUERQUE,NM              PLACITAS,NM
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE IN FLIGHT,CLEAR AIR
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
           WEATHER - ADVERSE WINDS ALOFT
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      65
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          225                                                       20
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- PROPANE BURNER.GUSTS TO 25K.ENCNTRD EXTREME DOWNDRAFTS.ENVELOPE CAUGHT TREE,GONDOLA HIT CLIFF.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N54708](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N54708-2013-04-18), registration cancelled 2013-04-18, S/N S55A-198, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: RAVEN S-55A
- 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
- Engines: none
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19760425011029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760425011029A), Apr 25, 1976: Raven S55A, Albuquerque, NM, Substantial damage. Propane burner. Gusts to 25K.encntrd extreme downdrafts. Envelope caught tree,gondola hit cliff.

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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